cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Behavioral theory and transportation cycling research: Application of Diffusion of Innovations

Abstract Background Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory may be applicable to studying transportation cycling adoption. This study assessed the association between two DOI theory constructs – perceived compatibility of transportation bicycling (the extent to which transportation bicycling is perceived as being consistent with existing values, norms, past experiences, and self-perception of potential adopters) and DOI stage of adoption of transportation bicycling – in population of downtown Austin employees. DOI and Transtheoretical Model (TTM) approaches to staging were also compared. Methods Survey data were collected via the Internet. Stage of adoption of transportation bicycling was assessed for each participant using both DOI and TTM staging approaches, as was a five-item DOI-based perceived compatibility of transportation bicycling score. Differences in perceived compatibility and sociodemographic characteristics across DOI stages were assessed. Differences in the distribution of participants and perceived compatibility across DOI and TTM stages were also assessed. Results Of the 803 employees invited, 295 (36.7%) completed the survey. Higher perceived compatibility was associated with being male, younger age, and higher education. Perceived compatibility was associated with DOI stage, and accounted for 45% of the variance across stages. As hypothesized, more participants were classified in TTM stage 1 than in DOI stage 1 (77% vs. 60%, p p Conclusions DOI theory may be relevant to understanding and promoting cycling for transportation. The TTM approach may undercount participants who are ready for action-oriented interventions. Interventions to increase transportation bicycling could benefit from an explicit focus on increasing the perceived compatibility of this behavior, and from utilizing the DOI staging approach to classify participants into stages that match their readiness for action.
Beyond the serotonin hypothesis: A role for dopamine in some forms of obsessive compulsive disorder?

It seems unlikely that a solitary disturbance in serotonin function can fully account for the pathophysiology of obsessive compulsive disorder. The authors propose that some forms of obsessive compulsive disorder, e.g., obsessive compulsive disorder with a history of Tourette's syndrome, may involve a relative or absolute derangement in both brain serotoninergic and dopaminergic systems. A role for dopamine in the pathophysiology of obsessive compulsive disorder is supported by a review of the preclinical and clinical evidence. Additional studies are needed to more directly evaluate dopamine function in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder.
Predicting Agonist Effect

This chapter discusses the use of the Black–Leff operational model to quantify agonist affinity and efficacy. The operational model allows ascription of molecular properties (affinity in the form of K A and efficacy in the form of τ ) for the prediction of agonist effect in different tissues from ratios of K A and τ obtained for agonists. This allows data obtained in test systems to predict what will be seen in therapeutic ones.
Imaging of Epidural Spinal Cord Compression

Epidural spinal cord compression is an ominous complication of metastatic disease, which can result in significant neurological sequela if it is not diagnosed urgently. The patient's neurologic status should prompt imaging evaluation and, although all the imaging modalities may detect epidural spinal cord compression to some degree, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most sensitive study. Various sequences have proven useful in detection of epidural metastasis. Advanced MRI, such as diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI, may provide functional information about the status of the spinal tract fibers, though it is still not ready for clinical use. Though imaging can be helpful in distinguishing between various epidural processes, the radiologic differential diagnosis of more difficult cases can be narrowed only by critical clinical history or biopsy.
INVARIANT IMBEDDING FOR FIXED AND FREE TWO POINT BOUNDARY VALUE PROBLEMS

Publisher Summary This chapter explores invariant imbedding for fixed and free two-point boundary value problems. It discusses a few computational aspects of applying the method of invariant imbedding to the numerical solution of boundary value problems for ordinary differential equations. It also highlights classes of problems for which invariant imbedding is well-suited. Invariant imbedding for linear problems may be viewed as a factorization of the linear differential operator. The chapter explains twopoint boundary value problems: (1) u′ = F(t, u, x);x′ = G(t, u, x) and (2) u(0) = f(x(0)); g(T, u(T), x(T)) = 0. Here, F and G are required to be at least piece-wise continuous in t and locally Lipschitz continuous in u and x; f and g are likewise at least locally Lipschitzian in all arguments.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Ultrasonic Activation of Persulfate: An in Situ EPR Spin Trapping Study.

Ultrasound (US) was shown to activate persulfate (PS) providing an alternative activation method to base or heat as an in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) method. The kinetics and mechanism of ultrasonic activation of PS were examined in aqueous solution using an in situ electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spin trapping technique and radical trapping with probe compounds. Using the spin trap, 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and sulfate radical anion (SO4•–) were measured from ultrasonic activation of persulfate (US-PS). The yield of •OH was up to 1 order of magnitude greater than that of SO4•–. The comparatively high •OH yield was attributed to the hydrolysis of SO4•– in the warm interfacial region of cavitation bubbles formed from US. Using steady-state approximations, the dissociation rate of PS in cavitating bubble systems was determined to be 3 orders of magnitude greater than control experiments without sonication at ambient temperature. From calculations of the interf...
Clinical characteristics of melanoma patients with non-V600E/K BRAF mutations.

e20036 Background: BRAF mutations are found in ~50% of melanoma. V600E/K substitutions are the most common and well-characterized. We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients with non-V600...
Optimized Method for Robust Transcriptome Profiling of Minute Tissues Using Laser Capture Microdissection and Low-Input RNA-Seq

Obtaining high quality RNA from complex biological tissues, such as the brain, is needed for establishing high-fidelity cell-type specific transcriptomes. Although combining genetic labeling techniques with laser capture microdissection (LCM) is generally sufficient, concerns over RNA degradation and limited yields call into question results of many sequencing studies. Here we set out to address both of these issues by 1) developing a fluorescence-assisted laser-capture microdissection protocol that yields high quality RNA from fresh-frozen tissues, and 2) determining a suitable RNA-Seq library generation method for limited amounts of RNA (1-5ng total RNA). The latter focused on comparing commercially available kits able to produce libraries of sufficient concentration and complexity while limiting PCR amplification biases. We find that high quality RNA (RNA integrity number, RIN, >9) of sufficient concentration can be isolated from laser-captured material from thinly-sectioned tissues when digestion time and temperature are minimized. Furthermore, we found that library generation approaches that retain ribosomal RNA (rRNA) through cDNA library generation required fewer cycles of PCR, minimizing bias in the resulting libraries. Lastly, end stage depletion of rRNA prior to sequencing enriches for target RNAs, thereby increasing read depth and level of gene detection while decreasing sequencing costs. Here we describe our protocol for generating robust RNA-Seq libraries from laser-captured tissue and demonstrate that with this method, we obtain samples with RNA quality superior to the current standard in the LCM field, and show that low-input RNA-Seq kits that minimize PCR bias produce high fidelity sequencing metrics with less variability compared to current practices.
Core Needle Biopsy of the Breast: An Evaluation of Contemporary Data

Abstract Benign and atypical lesions associated with breast cancer risk are often encountered in core needle biopsies (CNBs) of the breast. For these lesions, the rate of "upgrade" to carcinoma in excision specimens varies widely in the literature. Many CNB studies are limited by a lack of radiological–pathological correlation, consistent criteria for excision, and clinical follow-up for patients who forego excision. This article highlights contemporary diagnostic criteria and outcome data that would support an evidence-based approach to the management of these nonmalignant lesions of the breast diagnosed on CNB.
The Effects of a Health Partner Program on Reducing Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Previous lifestyle intervention research targeting prediabetes has primarily focused on weight loss, blood glucose, and lipid abnormalities. Far less is known whether lifestyle interventions lower other biological and physical risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight/obese adults with or without prediabetes. The aim of the study was to determine if a health partner program reduced biological and physical cardiovascular risk factors in overweight/obese adults with and without prediabetes at 1 year. A secondary data analysis was performed using the Center for Health Discovery and Well Being database at Emory University in the United States. A total of 246 (30 prediabetics and 216 non-prediabetics) were included in the analysis. At the 1-year follow-up, compared with non-prediabetics, prediabetics had significant improvements in body mass index, fasting blood glucose, and insulin resistance. Prediabetics also had higher increases in cardiorespiratory fitness. However, the methodological limitations and predominately high socioeconomic status level prevent definitive conclusions and generalizations.
When to Compound Medications for Veterinary Patients

This article serves as a brief discussion about some of the restrictions applicable to compounding medications for veterinary patients based on U. S. Food and Drug Administration compliance policy guidelines and provides a brief summary of when it is appropriate to compound medications for veterinary patients.
Comparison of the FASD 4-Digit Code and Hoyme et al. 2016 FASD diagnostic guidelines.

Background: As clinicians strive to achieve consensus worldwide on how best to diagnose fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), the most recent FASD diagnostic systems exhibit convergence and divergence. Applying these systems to a single clinical population illustrates contrasts between them, but validation studies are ultimately required to identify the best system. Currently, only the 4-Digit Code has published comprehensive validation studies. Methods: The 4-Digit Code and Hoyme 2016 FASD systems were applied to the records of 1,392 patients evaluated for FASD at the University of Washington to: 1) Compare the diagnostic criteria and tools used by each system, 2) Compare the prevalence and concordance of diagnostic outcomes and assess measures of validity. Results: Only 38% of patients received concordant diagnoses. The Hoyme criteria rendered half as many diagnoses under the umbrella of FASD (n=558) as the 4-Digit Code (n=1,092) and diagnosed a much higher proportion (53%) as fetal alcohol syndrome/partial fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS/PFAS) than the 4-Digit Code (7%). Key Hoyme factors contributing to discordance included relaxation of facial criteria (40% had the Hoyme FAS face, including patients with confirmed absence of alcohol exposure); setting alcohol exposure thresholds prevented 1/3 with confirmed exposure from receiving FAS/FASD diagnoses; and setting minimum age limits for Alcohol-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder prevented 79% of alcoholexposed infants with neurodevelopmental impairment a FASD diagnosis. The Hoyme Lip/Philtrum Guides differ substantively from the 4-Digit Lip-Philtrum Guides and thus are not valid for use with the 4-Digit Code. Conclusions: All FASD diagnostic systems need to publish comprehensive validation studies to identify which is the most accurate, reproducible, and medically valid.
Solving separable nonlinear least squares problems using the QR factorization

Abstract We present a method for solving the separable nonlinear least squares problem min y , z ‖ F ( y , z ) ‖ , where F ( y , z ) ≡ A ( y ) z + b ( y ) with a full rank matrix A ( y ) ∈ R ( N + l ) × N , y ∈ R n , z ∈ R N and the vector b ( y ) ∈ R N + l , with small l ≥ n . We show how this problem can be reduced to a smaller equivalent problem min y ‖ f ( y ) ‖ where the function f has only l components. The reduction technique is based on the existence of a locally differentiable orthonormal basis for the nullspace of A T ( y ) . We use Newton’s method to solve the reduced problem. We show that successive iteration points are independent of the nullspace basis used at any particular iteration point; thus the QR factorization can be used to provide a local basis at each iteration. We show that the first and second derivative terms that arise are easily computed, so quadratic convergence is obtainable even for nonzero residual problems. For the class of problems with N much greater than n and l the main cost per iteration of the method is one QR factorization of A ( y ) . We provide a detailed algorithm and some numerical examples to illustrate the technique.
Sewage loading and microbial risk in urban waters of the Great Lakes

Despite modern sewer system infrastructure, the release of sewage from deteriorating pipes and sewer overflows is a major water pollution problem in US cities, particularly in coastal watersheds that are highly developed with large human populations. We quantified fecal pollution sources and loads entering Lake Michigan from a large watershed of mixed land use using host-associated indicators. Wastewater treatment plant influent had stable concentrations of human Bacteroides and human Lachnospiraceae with geometric mean concentrations of 2.77 × 107 and 5.94 × 107 copy number (by quantitative PCR) per 100 ml, respectively. Human-associated indicator levels were four orders of magnitude higher than norovirus concentrations, suggesting that these human-associated bacteria could be sensitive indicators of pathogen risk. Norovirus concentrations in these same samples were used in calculations for quantitative microbial risk assessment. Assuming a typical recreational exposure to untreated sewage in water, concentrations of 7,800 copy number of human Bacteroides per 100 mL or 14,000 copy number of human Lachnospiraceae per 100 mL corresponded to an illness risk of 0.03. These levels were exceeded in estuarine waters during storm events with greater than 5 cm of rainfall. Following overflows from combined sewer systems (which must accommodate both sewage and stormwater), concentrations were 10-fold higher than under rainfall conditions. Automated high frequency sampling allowed for loads of human-associated markers to be determined, which could then be related back to equivalent volumes of untreated sewage that were released. Evidence of sewage contamination decreased as ruminant-associated indicators increased approximately one day post-storm, demonstrating the delayed impact of upstream agricultural sources on the estuary. These results demonstrate that urban areas are a diffuse source of sewage contamination to urban waters and that storm-driven release of sewage, particularly when sewage overflows occur, creates a serious though transient human health risk.
Management of Energy Storage Systems in EV, HEV and PHEV

The battery is an essential factor for development of electric, plugin electric, and hybrid vehicles. The cost, volume, charging convenience and lifetime of the battery determines the marketization process of hybrid electric and all electric vehicles. Thus proper management of energy storage systems (ESS) with main focus on batteries is of great importance and in great need. This ter focuses on the battery cell balancing, status monitoring, integrated ESS and thermal management for the purpose of battery lifetime extension and overall fuel efficiency improvement. In the meantime, fundamental definitions and calculation examples of ESS parameters are also given for readers’ better comprehension.
Lesbians in alcohol recovery surviving childhood sexual abuse and parental substance misuse.

Narratives of lives disrupted by abuse are essential data sources for understanding women's survival and healing in contexts of childhood sexual abuse. In this qualitative, feminist study of lesbians recovering from alcohol problems who have histories of childhood sexual abuse, a multiethnic sample of 20 women narrated their life stories in a series of three in-depth interviews. The purpose of this paper is to focus on parental substance misuse as it affected these women when they were growing up. Conditions and consequences of surviving childhood sexual abuse and parental substance misuse are analysed using narrative strategies and described using excerpts from the women's narratives. Loss was the overarching core theme that integrated participants' storied descriptions of parental substance misuse. They incurred severe losses in the absence of basic necessities for safe and healthy passages through childhood. In their abusive homes, they were not allowed innocence, and protected from violence, nor nurtured, guided, and loved. As many said, they lost their very childhoods. Language: en
Directed flow of quarks from the RHIC Beam Energy Scan measured by STAR

Abstract Directed flow ( ν 1 ) is a good probe of the early-stage dynamics of collision systems, and the ν 1 slope at midrapidity ( d v 1 / d y | y = 0 ) is sensitive to the system's equation of state. STAR has published ν 1 ( y ) measurements for ten particle species ( π ± , p , p ‾ , Λ, Λ ‾ , ϕ , K ± and K S 0 ) in Au+Au collisions at eight beam energies from s N N = 7.7 GeV to 200 GeV . In this study, we employ a simple coalescence idea to decompose ν 1 of hadrons into ν 1 of constituent quarks. The dv 1 / dy values of p ‾ , K − and Λ ‾ are used to test the coalescence sum rule for produced quarks. Data involving produced quarks support the coalescence picture at s N N = 11.5 GeV to 200 GeV , and a sharp deviation from this picture is observed at 7.7 GeV. The dv 1 / dy of transported quarks is studied via net particles (net p and net Λ). In these proceedings, we further extract the ν 1 slopes of produced and transported quarks, assuming that the coalescence sum rule is valid.
Assessing the CT findings and clinical course of ED patients with first-time versus recurrent acute pancreatitis

Abstract Study objectives The primary objective of this study was to compare Emergency Department patients with first-time versus recurrent acute pancreatitis. Methods This study was a retrospective chart review of patients with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis who presented to a single academic urban emergency department from 2012 to 2016. Criteria for inclusion were clinical symptoms of pancreatitis, age greater than or equal to 18 years, ED diagnosis of acute pancreatitis, and an abdominal CT scan within 24 h of triage. Exclusion criteria were traumatic mechanism and pregnancy. Charts were reviewed by a minimum of two trained abstractors using structured data collection sheets and discrepancies were resolved by a third abstractor. Patients with first time acute pancreatitis versus recurrent acute pancreatitis were compared to determine differences in characteristics, management and disposition. Results 250 patients were included in the study. Of these, 165 patients had first-time acute pancreatitis and 85 patients had recurrent acute pancreatitis. Demographics, vital signs and initial lab values were the same in both groups. Patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis were more likely to have significant findings on CT (Modified CT Severity Index, 2.09 versus 1.43, p Conclusion ED patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis demonstrated more significant findings on CT compared to patients with first-time acute pancreatitis but were less likely to require ICU admission.
On The Extraction of Training Imagery from Very Large Remote Sensing Datasets for Deep Convolutional Segmenatation Networks

In this work, we investigate strategies for training convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to perform recognition on remote sensing imagery. In particular we consider the particular problem of semantic segmentation in which the goal is to obtain a dense pixel-wise labeling of the input imagery. Remote sensing imagery is usually stored in the form of very large images, called “tiles”, which are too big to be segmented directly using most CNNs and their associated hardware. Therefore smaller sub-images, called “patches”, must be extracted from the available tiles. A popular strategy in the literature is to randomly sample patches from the tiles. However, in this work we demonstrate experimentally that extracting patches randomly from a uniform, non-overlapping spatial grid, leads to more accurate models. Our findings suggest the performance improvements are the result of reducing redundancy within the training dataset. We also find that sampling mini-batches of patches (for stochastic gradient descent) using constraints that maximizes the diversity of images within each batch leads to more accurate models. For example, in this work we constrained patches to come from varying tiles, or cities. These simple strategies contributed to our winning entry (in terms of overall performance) in the first year of the INRIA Building Labeling Challenge.
Molecular Profiling of Pancreatic Cancer Patients-Letter.

We read with great interest the article by Pishvaian and colleagues ([1][1]) that explored the clinical implications of molecular profiling of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and reported various actionable genes that may provide guidance for clinicians to practice precision medicine. The authors reported
Dynamic Modeling of Soft Manipulators Actuated by Twisted-and-Coiled Actuators*

Soft robots-robots made of soft materials-have strong potential for applications where traditional rigid robots are not suitable (e.g., safely collaborating with humans). However, actuation methods for most existing soft robots still require rigid components to function, and when they do not, they have a limited range of forces and displacements. A new artificial muscle, Twisted-and-Coiled actuators (TCAs), may provide partial solutions to this. They are capable of producing large forces and deformations comparable to or superior to human muscles. However, the dynamic modeling for TCAs when embedded inside soft materials is not trivial due to the coupling of deformations between the actuators and the body. In this paper, we model the dynamics for the thermally driven actuation and extend a dynamic Cosserat rod model to describe the dynamics of the soft body. We also numerically simulate the model to test its correctness. The proposed model is a generalization of existing models and can be applied to the modeling of soft robots when couplings exist between the actuator and the soft body.
Renal Function, Sodium, Volume, and Arterial Pressure Relationships

Nephrologists have a greater awareness of the important relationships between the kidneys and the cardiovascular system than any other group of clinicians. This association between renal function and the cardiovascular system was recognized by Richard Bright nearly a century ago. It was logical for investigators in the early twentieth century to assume that if the kidneys were unable to excrete sodium and water at a rate equivalent to daily intake, blood volume would expand with a resultant rise of cardiac output and arterial pressure. Curiously, however, as technology progressed through the 1930s to the present time, this basic notion became increasingly difficult to accept. It was found that even with decreased excretory ability of the kidneys and associated hypertension, blood volume and cardiac output could be either normal, low, or elevated.(1,2) The extracellular fluid volume was found to be inversely related to the level of arterial pressure in patients with essential hypertension. Elevation of peripheral vascular resistance appeared to be the only hemodynamic variable that hypertensive patients had in common, even those with clear evidence of decreased renal excretory capacity.
Empirical Investigation of Non-Convexities in Optimal Power Flow Problems

Optimal power flow (OPF) is a central problem in the operation of electric power systems. An OPF problem optimizes a specified objective function subject to constraints imposed by both the non-linear power flow equations and engineering limits. These constraints can yield non-convex feasible spaces that result in significant computational challenges. Despite these non-convexities, local solution algorithms actually find the global optima of some practical OPF problems. This suggests that OPF problems have a range of difficulty: some problems appear to have convex or “nearly convex” feasible spaces in terms of the voltage magnitudes and power injections, while other problems can exhibit significant non-convexities. Understanding this range of problem difficulty is helpful for creating new test cases for algorithmic benchmarking purposes. Leveraging recently developed computational tools for exploring OPF feasible spaces, this paper first describes an empirical study that aims to characterize non-convexities for small OPF problems. This paper then proposes and analyzes several medium-size test cases that challenge a variety of solution algorithms.
Wind Pressure Coefficients Zoning Method Based on an Unsupervised Learning Algorithm

Damage of the cladding structures usually occurs from the wind-sensitive part, which can cause the damaged conditions to obviously vary from different areas especially on a large roof surface. It is necessary to design optimization due to the difference of wind loads by defining more accurate wind pressure coefficient (WPC) zones according to the wind vulnerability analysis. The existing wind pressure coefficient zoning methods (WPCZM) have successfully been used to characterize the simple roof shapes. But the solutions for the complex and irregular roof shapes generally rely on the empirical judgment which is defective to the wind loading analysis. In this study, a classification concept for WPC values on the roof surface is presented based on the unsupervised learning algorithm, which is not limited by the roof geometry and can realize the multitype WPC zoning more accurately. As a typical unsupervised learning algorithm, an improved K-means clustering is proposed to develop a new WPCZM to verify the above concept. And a method to determine the optimal K-value is presented by using the K-means clustering test and clustering validity indices to overcome the difficulty of obtaining the cluster number in the traditional methods. As an example, the most unfavorable pressure and suction WPC zones are studied on a flat roof structure with single wind direction and full wind direction based on the data obtained from the wind tunnel test. As another example, the mean pressure coefficient zones are studied on a saddle roof structure under 0- and 45-degree wind direction based on the data obtained by the wind tunnel test. And the proposed WPCZM is illustrated and verified.
Automatic Fault Tree Generation from Radiation-Induced Fault Models

The space environment raises several unique reliability issues for non-optical-based electronic systems for surviving radiation from cosmic rays, our Sun, or the trapped radiation belts. These radiation categories are total ionizing dose (TID), a cumulative degradation mechanism that may eventually lead to component failure, and single-event effects (SEE), random events in time that are either recoverable or permanent failures. Fault effects and degradation caused by these mechanisms can propagate through the system and cause system failure, even mission failure when not accounted for and mitigated.
“Tunneling Two-Level Systems” Model of the Low-Temperature Properties of Glasses: Are “Smoking-Gun” Tests Possible?

Following a brief review of the "two-level (tunneling) systems" model of the low-temperature properties of amorphous solids ("glasses"), we ask whether it is in fact the unique explanation of these properties as is usually assumed, concluding that this is not necessarily the case. We point out that (a) one specific form of the model is already experimentally refuted and (b) that a definitive test of the model in its most general form, while not yet carried out, would appear to be now experimentally feasible.
From task-based training to task-based instruction: Novice language teachers’ experiences and perspectives:

This study investigated the relationship between task-based teacher training and novice English language teachers’ cognitions and implementations of tasks in Honduran bilingual schools. After parti...
Relative risks of adverse events among older adults receiving opioids versus NSAIDs after hospital discharge: A nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND Although analgesics are initiated on hospital discharge in millions of adults each year, studies quantifying the risks of opioids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among older adults during this transition are limited. We sought to determine the incidence and risk of post-discharge adverse events among older adults with an opioid claim in the week after hospital discharge, compared to those with NSAID claims only. METHODS AND FINDINGS We performed a retrospective cohort study using a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older, hospitalized in United States hospitals in 2016. We excluded beneficiaries admitted from or discharged to a facility. We derived a propensity score that included over 100 factors potentially related to the choice of analgesic, including demographics, diagnoses, surgeries, and medication coadministrations. Using 3:1 propensity matching, beneficiaries with an opioid claim in the week after hospital discharge (with or without NSAID claims) were matched to beneficiaries with an NSAID claim only. Primary outcomes included death, healthcare utilization (emergency department [ED] visits and rehospitalization), and a composite of known adverse effects of opioids or NSAIDs (fall/fracture, delirium, nausea/vomiting, complications of slowed colonic motility, acute renal failure, and gastritis/duodenitis) within 30 days of discharge. After propensity matching, there were 13,385 beneficiaries in the opioid cohort and 4,677 in the NSAID cohort (mean age: 74 years, 57% female). Beneficiaries receiving opioids had a higher incidence of death (1.8% versus 1.1%; relative risk [RR] 1.7 [1.3 to 2.3], p < 0.001, number needed to harm [NNH] 125), healthcare utilization (19.0% versus 17.4%; RR 1.1 [1.02 to 1.2], p = 0.02, NNH 59), and any potential adverse effect (25.2% versus 21.3%; RR 1.2 [1.1 to 1.3], p < 0.001, NNH 26), compared to those with an NSAID claim only. Specifically, they had higher relative risk of fall/fracture (4.5% versus 3.4%; RR 1.3 [1.1 to 1.6], p = 0.002), nausea/vomiting (9.2% versus 7.3%; RR 1.3 [1.1 to 1.4], p < 0.001), and slowed colonic motility (8.0% versus 6.2%; RR 1.3 [1.1 to 1.4], p < 0.001). Risks of delirium, acute renal failure, and gastritis/duodenitis did not differ between groups. The main limitation of our study is the observational nature of the data and possibility of residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS Older adults filling an opioid prescription in the week after hospital discharge were at higher risk for mortality and other post-discharge adverse outcomes compared to those filling an NSAID prescription only.
Thy Pedestal of Shame: Sex Offender Laws and Humiliation in the United States

Since the 1990s and into the 21st century, the United States continues to tighten its sex offender laws both federally and at the state level. Simultaneously, a renaissance is also taking place concerning the proper way to punish various offenders. As the United States began to trend toward alternative sanctions, civil programs, and creative sentences, scholars see issues with shame punishments or Scarlet Letter punishments. These punishments seek to: (1) punish the offender for their offense, and (2) encourage the public to shame the offender through various means. While the methods of shaming have evolved since the days of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Hester Prynne, the same spirit of shaming is present. In light of society’s justifications for punishment, shame punishments are contrary to the goals of punishing offenders. The concerns of improper punishments are raised under the Eighth Amendment in a recent case in the District of Colorado in Millard v. Rankin, 265 F. Supp. 3d 1211 (D. Colo. 2017). Plaintiffs argue that Colorado’s sex offender statute violates, among other provisions, the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause of the Eighth Amendment. This student note argues that these sex offender punishments are inconsistent with our justifications for punishment and that shame punishments as a whole are cruel and unusual punishments not consistent with our evolving standards of decency.
COVID-19 outcomes among adult patients treated with long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain in the USA: a retrospective cohort study

Objective Patients treated with long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) are known to have compromised immune systems and respiratory function, both of which make them particularly susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of developing severe clinical outcomes among COVID-19 non-cancer patients on LTOT, compared with those without LTOT. Design and data sources A retrospective cohort design using electronic health records in the TriNetX research database. Participants and setting 418 216 adults diagnosed with COVID-19 in January–December 2020 from 51 US healthcare organisations: 9558 in the LTOT and 408 658 in the control cohort. They did not have cancer diagnoses; only a small proportion might have been treated with opioid maintenance for opioid use disorder. Results Patient on LTOT had a higher risk ratio (RR) than control patients to visit an emergency department (RR 2.04, 95% CI 1.93 to 2.16) and be hospitalised (RR 2.91, 95% CI 2.69 to 3.15). Once admitted, LTOT patients were more likely to require intensive care (RR 3.65, 95% CI 3.10 to 4.29), mechanical ventilation (RR 3.47, 95% CI 2.89 to 4.15) and vasopressor support (RR 5.28, 95% CI 3.70 to 7.53) and die within 30 days (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.67 to 2.30). The LTOT group also showed increased risk (RRs from 2.06 to 3.98, all significant to 95% CI) of more-severe infection (eg, cough, dyspnoea, fever, hypoxaemia, thrombocytopaenia and acute respiratory distress syndrome). Statistically significant differences in several laboratory results and other vital signs appeared clinically negligible. Conclusion COVID-19 patients on LTOT were at higher risk of increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare utilisation. Interventions to reduce the need for LTOT and to increase compliance with COVID-19 protective measures may improve outcomes and reduce healthcare cost in this population. Prospective studies need to confirm and refine these findings.
Exclusion netting affects apple arthropod communities

Abstract Exclusion cages can quantitatively demonstrate the value of natural enemies and the biological control services they provide. Currently, in Washington State, enclosing orchards in netting is being evaluated as a pest control method, but these enclosures may also serve as an exclusion cage to natural enemies, thereby disrupting biological control. To test the effects of net enclosures on apple arthropod communities, we conducted a two-year study comparing apple herbivore, predator, and parasitoid densities in caged and uncaged plots (both receiving insecticides) to an untreated check. Effects on the various groups were influenced by size and motility. Densities of larger motile arthropods, including codling moth (Cydia pomonella (L.)), chrysopids, and syrphids, were lower in the caged plots, demonstrating exclusion. Woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann)) and its parasitoid Aphelinus mali (Haldeman) densities in the caged plots were over 100-fold greater and 5-fold greater, respectively, than the other treatments. European earwig (Forficula auricularia (L.)), a generalist predator, was more abundant in the caged plots in 2016 but not in 2017. Spider mites were more abundant in the cage treatments for both years, while predatory mites had higher densities in the cages in 2017 only. These outcomes show that net enclosures change the composition of apple arthropod communities through exclusion of certain herbivores and natural enemies. In the case of some pest herbivores (e.g., codling moth), this exclusion is beneficial, but in the case of predators, it is detrimental. This study further demonstrated that exclusion of only part of the natural enemy complex may be sufficient to cause herbivore outbreaks.
Severe asthma in adult, inner-city predominantly African-American and latinx population: demographic, clinical and phenotypic characteristics.

Introduction The burden of asthma morbidity with co-existing atopy among the racial/ethnic minorities in the socio-economically disadvantaged NYC borough of the Bronx is unusually high. The multidisciplinary Montefiore Asthma Center (MAC) provides guideline-based treatment to this high-risk population through the joint efforts of Allergists/Immunologists, Pulmonologists, and on-site health educators. Methods The objective of this prospective, observational study was to define the demographic and clinical characteristics of severe asthma, evaluate improvement in asthma severity and lung function through the course of treatment at the MAC, and describe the asthma phenotypes of the patients managed at the MAC. Adults with severe asthma receiving treatment at the MAC were followed from their first to their last visit at the MAC. Patient demographics, along with asthma severity and co-existing allergies, were assessed. Possible phenotypes were defined (based on presence or absence of atopy, age at asthma onset, and blood eosinophil counts). Results 227 patients were included in the final analysis, of which 55.5% were Hispanic and 33.9% identified as non-Hispanic Black. Ninety-one percent (91%) of our cohort was found to be atopic and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) was the most commonly identified co-existing allergic condition (86.3%). Mean Asthma Control Test (ACT) scores improved from 11.1 (± 4.9) at the initial visit to 14.8 (± 6.1) at the last visit. The spirometric values did not improve despite treatment at MAC. Conclusion A multidisciplinary severe asthma center is an ideal setting to phenotype patients and offer personalized guideline-based management and education to adults with severe asthma.
Probability distribution of fracture elongation, strength and toughness of notched rectangular blocks with lognormal Young's modulus

Abstract We find analytical approximations to the probability distribution of fracture properties of one-dimensional rods and thin two-dimensional plates when Young’s modulus varies spatially as an isotropic lognormal field. The properties considered are the elongation, strength, and toughness modulus at fracture initiation and at ultimate failure. This is an extension of a previous study that, under the same conditions, dealt with the distribution of the bulk elastic moduli ( Dimas et al., 2015 ). For all quantities at fracture initiation our approach is analytical in 1D and semi-analytical in 2D. For ultimate failure, we quantify the random effects of fracture propagation and crack arrest by fitting regression models to simulation data and combine the regressions with the distributions at fracture initiation. The results are validated through a series of Monte Carlo simulations. Through parametric analysis, we gain insight into the strengthening/weakening roles of the Euclidean dimension and size of the specimen and the variance and correlation function of the log-modulus field.
Review of Hybrid (Deterministic/Monte Carlo) Radiation Transport Methods, Codes, and Applications at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

** This paper provides a review of the hybrid (Monte Carlo/deterministic) radiation transport methods and codes used at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and examples of their application for increasing the efficiency of real-world, fixed-source Monte Carlo analyses. The two principal hybrid methods are (1) Consistent Adjoint Driven Importance Sampling (CADIS) for optimization of a localized detector (tally) region (e.g., flux, dose, or reaction rate at a particular location) and (2) Forward Weighted CADIS (FW-CADIS) for optimizing distributions (e.g., mesh tallies over all or part of the problem space) or multiple localized detector regions (e.g., simultaneous optimization of two or more localized tally regions). The two methods have been implemented and automated in both the MAVRIC sequence of SCALE 6 and ADVANTG, a code that works with the MCNP code. As implemented, the methods utilize the results of approximate, fast-running 3-D discrete ordinates transport calculations (with the Denovo code) to generate consistent space- and energy-dependent source and transport (weight windows) biasing parameters. These methods and codes have been applied to many relevant and challenging problems, including calculations of PWR ex-core thermal detector response, dose rates throughout an entire PWR facility, site boundary dose from arrays of commercial spent fuel storage casks, radiation fields for criticality accident alarm system placement, and detector response for special nuclear material detection scenarios and nuclear well-logging tools. Substantial computational speed-ups, generally O(10 2-4 ), have been realized for all applications to date. This paper provides a brief review of the methods, their implementation, results of their application, and current development activities, as well as a considerable list of references for readers seeking more information about the methods and/or their applications.
Evidence for both oxygen and non-oxygen dependent mechanisms of antibody sensitized target cell lysis by human monocytes

Recent studies suggest that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or superoxide (O2-) may play a role in monocyte antibody-dependent cytotoxicity (ADCC). We studied ADCC by normal human monocytes, and monocytes from chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients, cells unable to generate ROS, toward anti-D sensitized human red cells (RBC) and an antibody sensitized lymphoblastoid cell line (CEM) by 51Cr release. The effects of hypoxia, scavengers of ROS, and the activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt pathway (HMPS) were examined. We found that monocyte HMPS activity increased two to threefold during ADCC toward RBC but was unchanged during ADCC toward CEM cells. Hypoxia decreased lysis of RBC targets by 80% but did not affect lysis of CEM cells even though hypoxia markedly decreased monocyte HMPS activity. Monocytes from CGD patients had impaired lysis of RBC but lysed CEM cells normally. We could not, however, demonstrate protection by scavengers of ROS. We conclude that monocyte ADCC involves two independent mechanisms: a nonoxidative mechanism active in the lysis of CEM cells, and an oxidative mechanism that may involve an unidentified ROS activated during ADCC toward RBC. The activation and possible interaction of these two mechanisms is determined by the nature of the target cell and sensitizing antibody.
Native warm-season grasses: Species, nitrogen fertilization, and harvest date effects on biomass yield and composition

92 Introduction 94 Materials and Methods 96 Results and Discussion 99 Conclusions 110 References 112
Epithelial Cell Polarity: Challenges and Methodologies

The sections in this article are: 1 Questions 2 Tools and Techniques with Which to Study Epithelial Polarity 2.1 Epithelial Monolayers Grown on Permeable Substrata 2.2 Morphological Techniques 2.3 Biochemical Techniques 3 Protein Trafficking Pathways in Epithelial Cells 3.1 Biogenetic Pathways 3.2 Transcytosis 3.3 Recycling Pathways 3.4 Tissue-Specific Variation of Protein Polarity and Targeting Pathways in Epithelial Cells 4 Sorting Signals and Mechanisms 5 Establishment of Epithelial Polarity 5.1 The Role of E-Cadherin 6 Future Prospects: In Vitro Systems, Genetic Models, and the Search for Sorting Machinery
Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism and systemic sclerosis: An association likely missed

Hypoparathyroidism in systemic sclerosis is extremely rare with only a single case reported till date. Idiopathic hypoparathyroidism with systemic sclerosis was diagnosed in a 59-year-old gentleman who had presented with recurrent seizures, instability of gait, skin thickening and tightening over both legs and forearms, and arthritis. Examination was significant for positive Trousseau sign and cerebellar ataxia. Evaluation revealed bilateral symmetrical cerebellar and basal ganglia calcification, sensorineural deafness, low serum calcium, elevated serum phosphorus, normal magnesium, normal vitamin D, low plasma parathyroid hormone, high titer of thyroid peroxidase antibody, positive centromere pattern antinuclear antibody, strongly positive anti-topoisomerase-1 (Scl-70) antibody, nonvisualization of parathyroids on neck ultrasonography and skin biopsy suggestive of hyperkeratosis, increased collagen in dermis, and perivascular lymphomononuclear cell infiltration compatible with scleroderma. Last evaluated 10 months after the diagnosis, his ataxia had improved, he remained seizure-free, Trousseau sign was negative, and he had low-normal calcium calcium with calcium carbonate and calcitriol supplementation and switch from phenytoin to valproate. Further studies are warranted to study the use of serum calcium as a screening test for hypoparathyroidism in patients with systemic sclerosis.
Packaging and thin-film truncation effects on thin-film open end microstrip line for miniature multilayer MMICs

This paper analyzes the packaging and thin-film truncation effects of the open end of thin-film microstrip lines for miniature multilayer MMICs. The formulation is implemented by the 3D finite difference method in conjunction with the higher order asymptotic boundary condition. Special treatment of mesh nodes at the corner and the fringes of the boundary is given by the interpolation. The results presented here show that (1) the field distribution is highly disturbed by the truncation of the thin dielectric film; (2) the electrical performance varies as the thin dielectric film is truncated near the open end; and (3) when a shield metal box, if any, is less than twice the thickness of the substrate, the packaging effect becomes significant.