cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation on Present Situation of Brick-Tea Fluorosis in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Objective To explore the present situation of brick-tea fluorosis in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province,and provide scientific information for making preventative strategies.Methods According to the methods of epidemiological investigation,6 counties,60 towns,and 120 villages were selected by stratified sampling.The situation of dental fluorosis among 8-12 years old children and adults,and skeletal fluorosis among adults aged at least 20 were investigated.X-ray images were taken in patients who were suspected to have skeletal fluorosis.The level of fluorine in brick tea,brick tea water,drinking water,food,and urine were also tested.Results The rates of dental fluorosis among children and adults were 56.3% and 60.79%,respectively.The average rate of clinical skeletal fluorosis was 41.74%.The positive rate of X-ray images of skeletal fluorosis was 45.91%.The average levels of fluorine in urine among children and adults were 1.66 mg/L and 2.36 mg/L,respectively.The level of fluorine in brick tea was between 634.14 and 1 093 mg/kg,with the average level of 910.43 mg/kg.The level of fluorine in brick tea water was 5.40 mg/L.The levels of flrorine in drinking water and food were both below 1 mg/kg.Conclusion The present epidemic situation of fluorosis due to brick tea in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is relatively serious.Comprehensive prevention strategies should be carried out to eliminate the hazards of fluorosis.
The Good Judgment Project: A Large Scale Test of Different Methods of Combining Expert Predictions

Many methods have been proposed for making use of multiple experts to predict uncertain events such as election outcomes, ranging from simple averaging of individual predictions to complex collaborative structures such as prediction markets or structured group decision making processes. We used a panel of more than 2,000 forecasters to systematically compare the performance of four different collaborative processes on a battery of political prediction problems. We found that teams and prediction markets systematically outperformed averages of individual forecasters, that training forecasters helps, and that the exact form of how predictions are combined has a large effect on overall prediction accuracy.
Effect of Cyanuric Acid on the Inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum under Hyperchlorination Conditions

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is a chlorine stabilizer used in swimming pools to limit UV degradation of chlorine, thus reducing chlorine use and cost. However, CYA has been shown to decrease the efficacy of chlorine disinfection. In the event of a diarrheal incident, CDC recommends implementing 3-log10 inactivation conditions for Cryptosporidium (CT value = 15 300 mg·min/L) to remediate pools. Currently, CYA’s impact on Cryptosporidium inactivation is not fully determined. We investigated the impact of multiple concentrations of CYA on C. parvum inactivation (at 20 and 40 mg/L free chlorine; average pH 7.6; 25 °C). At 20 mg/L free chlorine, average estimated 3-log10 CT values were 17 800 and 31 500 mg·min/L with 8 and 16 mg/L CYA, respectively, and the average estimated 1-log10 CT value was 76 500 mg·min/L with 48 mg/L CYA. At 40 mg/L free chlorine, 3-log10 CT values were lower than those at 20 mg/L, but still higher than those of free chlorine-only controls. In the presence of ∼100 mg/L CYA, average 0.8- and 1.4-...
Cosmogenic-nuclide exposure ages from the Pensacola Mountains adjacent to the Foundation Ice Stream, Antarctica

We describe glacial-geological observations and cosmogenic-nuclide exposure ages from the Schmidt, Williams, and Thomas Hills in the Pensacola Mountains of Antarctica adjacent to the Foundation Ice Stream (FIS). Our aim is to learn about changes in the thickness and grounding line position of the Antarctic Ice Sheet in the Weddell Sea embayment between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the present. Glacial-geological observations from all three regions indicate that currently-ice-free areas were covered by ice during one or more past ice sheet expansions, and that this ice was typically frozen to its bed and thus non-erosive, permitting the accumulation of multiple generations of glacial drift. Cosmogenic-nuclide exposure-age data from glacially transported erratics are consistent with this interpretation in that we observe both (i) samples with Holocene exposure ages that display a systematic age-elevation relationship recording LGM-to-present deglaciation, and (ii) samples with older and highly scattered apparent exposure ages that were deposited in previous glacial-interglacial cycles and have experienced multiple periods of surface exposure and ice cover. Holocene exposure ages at the Thomas and Williams Hills, upstream of the present grounding line of the FIS, show that the FIS was at least 500 m thicker prior to 11 ka, and that 500 m of thinning took place between 11 and 4 ka. However, exposure-age data from the Schmidt Hills, downstream of the present grounding line of the FIS, show no evidence for LGM thickening of the FIS and, in fact, provide some evidence that the FIS could have been no more than 200 m thicker than present at the LGM. If all these observations are correct, they imply that the LGM and early Holocene ice surface slope in the vicinity of the present grounding line was steeper than present, which is inconsistent with glaciological model predictions of possible LGM ice sheet configurations. Specifically, scenarios in which the LGM grounding line of the FIS advanced to the outer continental shelf appear inconsistent with exposure-age data from the Schmidt Hills, whereas scenarios in which the FIS grounding line did not advance at the LGM appear inconsistent with exposure-age data from the Williams and Thomas Hills.
Will They Walk or Will They Talk? Comparing Chinese and American Consumers

As the business world becomes less company driven and more customer-oriented, increasing loyalty becomes a critical factor to building a successful company (Zahay et al. 2012). Such loyalty is not easy to earn, but in the increasingly socially connected world, customers who are brand advocates serve as a key marketing tool (Sen and Lerman 2007). In effect, as a free resource that consumers can avail of at any time and from multiple sources, word of mouth (WOM) not only allows customers to tell their consumption stories and share their opinions, but it also allows them to research a seemingly independent view of a business (Moore 2012). As such, research abounds on the motivations driving WOM, whether positive or negative, such as self-enhancement, anger and retaliation, altruism, brand love, and many others (De Angelis et al. 2012).
“The Minor Poet” of Hawthorne’s Blithedale Romance

The mixed motives of Hawthorne’s characters in The Blithedale Romance often puzzle readers. This confusion is caused partly by Hawthorne’s method of creating characters in this romance by sifting t...
Distress intolerance as a moderator of the relationship between daily stressors and affective symptoms: Tests of incremental and prospective relationships.

Abstract Background Distress intolerance (DI) is conceptualized as an individual difference reflective of the ability to tolerate aversive psychological states. Although high DI has demonstrated cross-sectional associations with multiple forms of psychopathology, few studies have tested key facets of its theoretical conceptualization. Specifically, little research has been conducted on DI's theorized role as an incrementally valid prospective moderator of the relationship between daily stressful events and affective symptoms reflective of preoccupation with aversive internal (e.g., depression, worry) rather than external stimuli (e.g., social anxiety). Method A non-clinical sample (N = 147; 77% female; M age = 19.32) in which high DI individuals were oversampled was recruited. Participants completed baseline measures of DI and trait negative affect followed by six diary entries over a two-week period in which participants reported on daily stressors, negative affect, worry, depressive, and social anxiety symptoms. Results Hierarchical linear models revealed that DI positively predicted depressive and worry, but not social anxiety symptoms, independent of daily stressors and negative affect. Further, a significant interaction effect was found such that the positive association between daily stressor(s) occurrence and daily worry was significant at high, but not low DI, and a similar trend-level interaction effect was observed for depressive symptoms. The interaction for social anxiety symptoms was non-significant Limitations Utilization of a non-clinical sample precludes generalization of results to clinical samples. Only self-reported DI was assessed, limiting conclusions to perceived as opposed to behaviorally-indexed DI. Conclusions Results largely supported DI's theoretical conceptualization as an incrementally valid moderator of stress responding with relevance to particular affective symptoms.
A Singular Hope: How the Discussion Around Cancer Surgery Sometimes Fails

Background Patients with cancer often have an overly optimistic view of prognosis, as well as potential benefits of treatment. Patient–surgeon communication in the preoperative period has not received as much attention as communicating prognosis or bad news in the postoperative setting.
Behavioral health correlates of exposure to community violence among African-American adolescents in Chicago

Abstract Aims Though public health researchers are more aware of behavioral health concerns among African American youth, few studies have explored how exposure to community violence may be related to adverse youth concerns. This study examines the relationship between exposure to community violence and mental health problems, substance use, school engagement, juvenile justice involvement, and STI risk behaviors. Methods A total of 638 African American adolescents living in predominantly low-income, urban communities participated in the study by completing self-report measures on exposure to community violence, mental health, school engagement proxies, substance use, delinquency markers and sexual risk behaviors. Results Adolescents who reported higher rates of exposure to community violence were significantly more likely to report poorer mental health, delinquent behaviors, a history of juvenile justice involvement, lower school bonding and student-teacher connectedness. These youth were also significantly more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit substances, and engage in sexual risk behaviors. Conclusions Findings suggest that there is a critical need for culturally relevant prevention and intervention efforts for African American adolescents who are frequently exposed to community violence.
Comparison of Gel Relaxation Times and End-Block Pullout Times in ABA Triblock Copolymer Networks

The gel relaxation times of two different poly[styrene-b-(ethylene-alt-propylene)-b-styrene] (SEPS) ABA triblock copolymers in squalane at various concentrations has been measured by rheology. These relaxation times were compared with the results of previous time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (TR-SANS) experiments, which measured chain exchange kinetics in SEP diblock and SEPS triblock micelles in squalane. The gels relaxed up to four orders of magnitude faster than expected based on the chain exchange measurements of equivalent diblock polymers. By accounting for two factors—a bias toward shorter end-block lengths in the gel relaxation, and a reduction in the energy barrier to chain pullout caused by the triblock architecture—a model is constructed that reconciles the surprisingly short gel relaxation times with the chain exchange times measured via TR-SANS.
An algorithm for automatic registration of image

It is a kind of pivotal technology to detect and match control points quickly and effectively in application of remote sensing image. The paper proposed an algorithm for detecting and matching of control points based on the analysis of current algorithm for detection of significant points. The results show that the algorithm has realized the automatic registration of image and is fast and exact, which establishes a favorable foundation for wide application of remote sensing image.
Increasing accuracy and precision of digital image correlation through pattern optimization

Abstract The accuracy and precision of digital image correlation (DIC) is based on three primary components: image acquisition, image analysis, and the subject of the image. Focus on the third component, the image subject, has been relatively limited and primarily concerned with comparing pseudo-random surface patterns. In the current work, a strategy is proposed for the creation of optimal DIC patterns. In this strategy, a pattern quality metric is developed as a combination of quality metrics from the literature rather than optimization based on any single one of them. In this way, optimization produces a pattern which balances the benefits of multiple quality metrics. Specifically, sum of square of subset intensity gradients (SSSIG) was found to be the metric most strongly correlated to DIC accuracy and thus is the main component of the newly proposed pattern quality metric. A term related to the secondary auto-correlation peak height is also part of the proposed quality metric which effectively acts as a constraint upon SSSIG ensuring that a regular (e.g., checkerboard-type) pattern is not achieved. The combined pattern quality metric is used to generate a pattern that was on average 11.6% more accurate than a randomly generated pattern in a suite of numerical experiments. Furthermore, physical experiments were performed which confirm that there is indeed improvement of a similar magnitude in DIC measurements for the optimized pattern compared to a random pattern.
Control of Upper Limb Active Prosthesis Using Surface Electromyography

Electromyographic prosthesis with higher degrees of freedom is an expanding area of research. In this paper, active prosthesis with four degrees of freedom has been investigated, which can be used to fit a limb with amputation below elbow. The system comprises of multi- channel inputs which correspond to the flexion and extension as well as supination and pronation. To find maximum surface neural activity, accurate placement of electrodes has been carried out on 10 subjects aged between 22-30 years. Signals (0-500 hertz) acquired from contracting voluntary muscles with minimum cross talk and common mode noise. Clean filtered EMG signal is then amplified precisely. Finally digitization is being done to drive bionic hand. Practical demonstration on a simple DC motor proved providential using this method for the two motions of an actual human arm. EMG Signals emanating from muscles dedicated to individual fingers have been recorded. Moreover modern classifiers; KNN and NN have been investigated carefully with selected features through different time and noise levels.
Spontaneous Violent and Homicide Thoughts in Four Homicide Contexts

Although homicide remains an important topic of research, the majority of the research has focused on homicidal behavior and not homicide thoughts. Yet research into homicidal thoughts provides valuable insights into issues such as premeditation. In three experiments, we instructed participants to imagine different scenarios describing a situation where homicide and violence actually take place, but that do not contain violence or homicidal actions. We used both explicit and implicit methods to measure homicide and violent ideation. The evidence from these experiments indicates that when people imagine homicide scenarios, they think about violence at a substantial rate, but rarely consider homicide. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Global Explorers Journaling and Reflection Initiative

Research suggests that journaling will increase reflection and improve program outcomes (Bain, et al, 1999; Duerden, et al, 2012) This study involved a partnership with a non-profit, Global Explorers (GEx), which provides international immersion experiences for youth. Their programs are designed to teach youth participants principles of leadership, environmental awareness, service, and science. This study, which tested whether teaching journaling techniques to youth program facilitators would have a positive impact on participant outcomes, addressed the following hypotheses: 1) Greater training in reflective thinking among participants would be associated with higher outcome scores, and 2) Participants in the intervention group (facilitators trained in journaling pedagogy) would show greater increases in reflective thinking than comparison group members. Results based on participant self-assessment were significant in testing the first hypothesis; reflective thinking is positively associated with outcome measures, but the intervention group did not show increases in reflective thinking.
Intelligent Interface for Seeing the World Through Different Lenses

Despite the explosive growth of online social media where people can easily share their thoughts, our current society is more divided than before, gridlocked over society, culture, race, and gender issues. Selective exposure, a confirmatory bias of individuals that favors preexisting opinions while avoiding attitude-inconsistent views, impedes the balanced insight of a controversial issue, which thereby would account for the societal division. In this research proposal, we introduce an intelligent interface that automatically clusters and visualizes diverse opinions about a controversial topic. First, we collect controversial posts from Facebook and its comments. Then, the comments are automatically clustered using a machine-learning algorithm based on features that reflect its contents and the writer's stance. Lastly, we propose an intelligent user interface with controversial posts and opinion clusters where users would be motivated to hunt for opinion groups that are different from their own perspective.
Breakdown of the Blood-Brain Barrier to Horseradish Peroxidase After Experimental Post-Traumatic Hypoxic Brain Injury

Clinical studies have clearly demonstrated that severe head injury is frequently accompanied by hypoxic insult and that there is a close association between post-traumatic hypoxic brain injury (PTHI) and poor neurologic outcome. We therefore developed a rat model of PTHI combining a fluid percussion injury and hypoxic insult [3].
2012 Outstanding Paper: Basic Science The effects of local insulin application to lumbar spinal fusions in a rat model

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: The rates of pseudoarthrosis after a single-level spinal fusion have been reported up to 35%, and the agents that increase the rate of fusion have an important role in decreasing pseudoarthrosis after spinal fusion. Previous studies have analyzed the effects of local insulin application to an autograft in a rat segmental defect model. Defects treated with a timereleased insulin implant had significantly more new bone formation and greater quality of bone compared with controls based on histology and histomorphometry. A time-released insulin implant may have similar effects when applied in a lumbar spinal fusion model. PURPOSE: This study analyzes the effects of a local time-released insulin implant applied to the fusion bed in a rat posterolateral lumbar spinal fusion model. Our hypothesis was twofold: first, a time-released insulin implant applied to the autograft bed in a rat posterolateral lumbar fusion will increase the rate of successful fusion and second, will alter the local environment of the fusion site by increasing the levels of local growth factors. STUDY DESIGN: Animal model (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved) using 40 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. METHODS: Forty skeletally mature Sprague-Dawley rats weighing approximately 500 g each underwent posterolateral intertransverse lumbar fusions with iliac crest autograft from L4 to L5 using a Wiltse-type approach. After exposure of the transverse processes and high-speed burr decortication, a Linplant (Linshin Canada, Inc., ON, Canada) consisting of 95% microrecrystalized palmitic acid and 5% bovine insulin (experimental group) or a sham implant consisting of only palmitic acid (control group) was implanted on the fusion bed with iliac crest autograft. As per the manufacturer, the Linplant has a release rate of 2 U/day for a minimum of 40 days. The transverse processes and autograft beds of 10 animals from the experimental and 10 from the control group were harvested at Day 4 and analyzed for growth factors. The remaining 20 spines were harvested at 8 weeks and underwent a radiographic examination, manual palpation, and microcomputed tomographic (micro-CT) examination. RESULTS: One of the 8-week control animals died on postoperative Day 1, likely due to anesthesia. In the groups sacrificed at Day 4, there was a significant increase in insulinlike growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the insulin treatment group compared with the controls (0.185 vs. 0.129; p5.001). No significant differences were demonstrated in the levels of transforming growth factor beta-1,
Utility of Water Siphon Maneuver for Eliciting Gastroesophageal Reflux During Barium Esophagography: Correlation With Histologic Findings.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the water siphon maneuver improves detection of gastroesophageal (GE) reflux during barium esophagography compared with observation for...
Kant and Husserl

Few distinctions have had as much influence on the later development of philosophy than Kant’s distinction between analytic, synthetic, and synthetic a priori statements. Few arguments in Western philosophy have been as instrumental in redirecting philosophical investigation as Kant’s argument leading to his thesis of possibility of synthesis a priori.
Smeed’s Law, Seat Belts, and the Emperor’s New Clothes

Smeed’s Law suggests that as motor vehicle ownership increases, death rates per vehicle decrease. The principal claims of the credit for this decrease are considered: safer vehicles, safer roads and safer road users.
Future fires simulation trade study analysis

In support of the Future Fires Trade Study, the U. S. Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center (AMRDEC) Systems Simulation and Development Directorate (SS&DD) developed a Six Degrees of Freedom (6-DOF) simulation for the initial analysis of possible variants of a future conventional missile variant. The simulation provides detailed kinematic 6-DOF models using the AMRDEC Missile Component Library (McLib) and the Common Simulation Framework (CSF) for various missile load outs and configurations. The Aerodynamic input into the simulation comes from and integrates data produced from the Data Compendium (DATCOM). The simulation currently verifies control schemes, propulsion options, missile sizing, and mass budgets for various pre-determined concepts. Current and future development efforts include developing additional propulsion models, sensor models, and airframe configurations.The purpose of this paper is to discuss the capabilities of this simulation and future development efforts planned for it.
Multi-level determinants to HPV vaccination among Hispanic farmworker families in Florida

ABSTRACTBackground: HPV vaccination is the primary prevention method for HPV-related cancers, although among Hispanic populations, migrant farmworkers may experience exacerbated challenges to HPV v...
Dehydration of Alaska’s low-rank coals by hydrothermal treatment

The combination of high moisture and low heating value has restricted most low-rank coal (LRC) usage worldwide to mine-mouth power generation. The objective of this study was to subject two Alaska low-rank coals to hydrothermal drying to enhance their marketability in the Pacific Rim markets and to evaluate the chemical and physical properties of the dried products as a function of process conditions. Coals from Usibelli Coal Mine and the Beluga coalfield have a heating value of approximately 185 MJ/kg and contain about 28% moisture. Hydrothermal treatment (at 275° to 325° C) of lump coal, from the Usibelli Coal Mine and the Beluga coalfield, enhanced the heating value of the material, on an equilibrium moisture basis, from 185 MJ/kg to nearly 27.8 MJ/kg. The product coal, with a high heating value and only 0.2% S, is an environmentally-acceptable premium fuel; additionally, with the Hardgrove grindability index of the coal greatly improved, its value is even further enhanced. An increase in hydrothermal drying temperature promotes vesiculation of resinite. Also, ulminite reflectance increased to 0.92%, and ulminite was subjected to widespread vesiculation; this resulted in a coke-like structure indicative that the material went through the fluid stage.
Abstract WP89: CTP Improves Accuracy, Interrater Reliability and Detection Speed Over CTA Alone in LVO Detection

Introduction: Large vessel occlusion (LVO) is critically important to identify for appropriate treatment and thrombectomy. Our purpose was to determine if LVO diagnosis can be improved over CTA alo...
EGFR-Mutated Lung Cancers Resistant to Osimertinib through EGFR C797S Respond to First-Generation Reversible EGFR Inhibitors but Eventually Acquire EGFR T790M/C797S in Preclinical Models and Clinical Samples.

Abstract Introduction Osimertinib is approved for advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC, and identification of on-target mechanisms of resistance (i.e., EGFR C797S) to this third-generation EGFR inhibitor are evolving. Whether durable control of subsequently osimertinib-resistant NSCLC with the EGFR-sensitizing mutation (SM)/C797S is possible with first-generation EGFR inhibitors (such as gefitinib or erlotinib) remains underreported, as does the resultant acquired resistance profile. Methods We used N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis to determine the profile of EGFR SM/C797S preclinical models exposed to reversible EGFR inhibitors. In addition, we retrospectively probed a case of EGFR SM lung adenocarcinoma treated with first-line osimertinib, followed by second-line erlotinib in the setting of EGFR SM/C797S. Results Use of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis against the background of EGFR L858R/C797S in conjunction with administration of gefitinib revealed preferential outgrowth of cells with EGFR L858R/T790M/C797S. A patient with EGFR delE746_T751insV NSCLC was treated with osimertinib with sustained response for 10 months before acquiring EGFR C797S. The patient was subsequently treated with erlotinib, with response for a period of 4 months, but disease progression ensued. Liquid biopsy disclosed EGFR delE746_T751insV with T790M and C797S present in cis. Conclusion EGFR SM NSCLC can acquire resistance to osimertinib through development of the EGFR C797S mutation. In this clinical scenario, the tumor may respond transiently to reversible first-generation EGFR inhibitors (gefitinib or erlotinib), but evolving mechanisms of on-target resistance—in clinical specimens and preclinical systems—indicate that EGFR C797S along with EGFR T790M can evolve. This report adds to the growing understanding of tumor evolution or adaptability to sequential EGFR inhibition and augments support for exploring combination therapies to delay or prevent on-target resistance.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the papillary muscles of the left ventricle: normal anatomy, variants, and abnormalities

Left ventricular papillary muscles are small myocardial structures that play an important role in the functioning of mitral valve and left ventricle. Typically, there are two groups of papillary muscles, namely the anterolateral and the posteromedial groups. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is a valuable imaging modality in the evaluation of papillary muscles, providing both morphological and functional information. There is a remarkably wide variation in the morphology of papillary muscles. These variations can be asymptomatic or associated with symptoms related to LV outflow tract obstruction, often associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Abnormalities of the papillary muscles range from congenital disorders to neoplasms. Parachute mitral valve is the most common congenital abnormality of papillary muscles, in which all the chordae insert into a single papillary muscle. Papillary muscles can become dysfunctional, most commonly due to ischemia. Papillary muscle rupture is a major complication of acute myocardial infarction that results in mitral regurgitation and associated with high mortality rates. The most common papillary neoplasm is metastasis, but primary benign and malignant neoplasms can also be seen. In this article, we discuss the role of CMR in the evaluation of papillary muscle anatomy, function, and abnormalities.
High prevalence of outpatient falls following elective shoulder arthroplasty

Background This study characterized the prevalence and risk factors of inpatient and outpatient postoperative falls in patients undergoing elective shoulder arthroplasty. Methods A retrospective chart review of 198 patients undergoing anatomic or reverse total shoulder arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasties at one institution between 2015 and 2017 was reviewed to determine the prevalence of inpatient and outpatient falls up to 90 days after discharge. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to assess potential risk factors for postoperative falls including demographics, indication for surgery, surgical procedure, medical history, length of hospital stay, perioperative hemoglobin, need for transfusion, and discharge disposition. Results There were 23 falls in 22 patients within a 90-day postoperative period. The inpatient fall rate was 1.0% (2 of 198). The outpatient fall rate was 10.6% (21 of 198). Outpatient falls resulted in emergency department evaluation in 23.8% of cases (5 of 21), readmission in 19.0% (4 of 21), injury to an anatomic site other than the shoulder in 19.0% (4 of 21), and injury at the surgical site (eg, periprosthetic humeral fracture) in 4.8% (1 of 21). No significant risk factors were identified for inpatient falls. Independent risk factors for an outpatient fall were female sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32, 17.4; P = .007), increased length of hospital stay (aOR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.45; P = .02), and history of a movement disorder (aOR = 7.20; 95% CI: 1.22, 42.6; P = .03). Conclusion A high outpatient fall rate of 10.6% within 90 days after discharge raises the concern that falls after shoulder arthroplasty are significantly higher than previously reported.
Improvisation and the Synthesis Project on the Presto Software

After a critical review of improvisation, especially in jazz, this chapter deals with the confrontation of mathematical music theory, as implemented in the composition software prestoⓇ, with the improvisational flight of Mazzola’s piano in the piano concerto Synthesis.
Dietary Supplements: Understanding the Complexity of Use and Applications to Health

Dietary supplements, or nutraceuticals, are one of the most common health-related integrative medicine modulates used by the general public to enhance health outcomes and augment medical care. Whether treatment with dietary supplements are sought out for self-prescribing, in conjunction with a licensed or certified health practitioner, or in collaboration with the primary care physician and medical team, there are several important things to consider when designing a care plan aimed at optimizing outcomes while reducing potential untoward side effects. This chapter will provide an overview of dietary supplements with a focus on issues relating to nomenclature, understanding of the nutraceutical marketplace, and key regulatory issues. It will also take a deeper dive into how best to assess reputable manufacturers as well as supplement formulations. Taken together, the overall goal is to guarantee that all products selected are safe and quality control tested. In the current healthcare environment of rising chronic illness (diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease), escalating healthcare costs, and exponential growth in prescription medication, the public is seeking more natural products and functional nutrition interventions. A more comprehensive understanding of the dietary supplement and nutraceutical landscape and their practical applications to health will help to ensure greater safety and benefits to everyone participating in the healthcare industry.
Delayed presentation and conservative management of an intraarterial injection of crushed amphetamine/dextroamphetamine salts

Abstract Amphetamine prescription medications are used in the treatment of several medical conditions but pose a high abuse potential. Some users inadvertently inject crushed amphetamines intraarterially while trying to inject intravenously. This often leads to arteriospasm and injury to the tissue distal to the injection site. Management traditionally has focused on arteriodilators to improve distal blood flow and limit further injury. We present a case of a 37-year-old woman who inadvertently injected crushed amphetamine/dextroamphetamine intraarterially and presented to an emergency department 15 hours after the injury. She had extensive injury distal to the injection site which included focal myonecrosis. Given her delayed presentation and a medication shortage at the time, conservative and supportive treatments were provided. The patient fully recovered approximately 3 weeks after the injury.
Patient-specific quality assurance and plan dose errors on breast intensity-modulated proton therapy.

Abstract Purpose To investigate, in proton therapy, whether the Gamma passing rate (GPR) is related to the patient dose error and whether MU scaling can improve dose accuracy. Methods Among 20 consecutively treated breast patients selected for analysis, two IMPT plans were retrospectively generated: (1) the pencil-beam (PB) plan and (2) the Monte Carlo (MC) plan. Patient-specific QA was performed. A 3%/3-mm Gamma analysis was conducted to compare the TPS-calculated PB algorithm dose distribution with the measured 2D dose. Dose errors were compared between the plans that passed the Gamma testing and those that failed. The MU was then scaled to obtain a better GPR. MU-scaled PB plan dose errors were compared to the original PB plan. Results Of the 20 PB plans, 8 were passed Gamma testing (G_pass_group) and 12 failed (G_fail_group). Surprisingly, the G_pass_group had a greater dose error than the G_fail_group. The median (range) of the PTV DVH RMSE and PTV ΔDmean were 1.36 (1.00–1.91) Gy vs 1.18 (1.02–1.80) Gy and 1.23 (0.92–1.71) Gy vs 1.10 (0.87–1.49) Gy for the G_pass_group and the G_fail_group, respectively. MU scaling reduced overall dose error. However, for PTV D99 and D95, MU scaling worsened some cases. Conclusion For breast IMPT, the PB plans that passed the Gamma testing did not show smaller dose errors compared to the plans that failed. For individual plans, the MU scaling technique leads to overall smaller dose errors. However, we do not suggest use of the MU scaling technique to replace the MC plans when the MC algorithm is available.
Epitranscriptomic regulation by m6A RNA methylation in brain development and diseases

Cellular RNAs are pervasively tagged with diverse chemical moieties, collectively called epitranscriptomic modifications. The methylation of adenosine at N6 position generates N6-methyladenosine (m6A), which is the most abundant and reversible epitranscriptomic modification in mammals. The m6A signaling is mediated by a dedicated set of proteins comprised of writers, erasers, and readers. Contrary to the activation-repression binary view of gene regulation, emerging evidence suggests that the m6A methylation controls multiple aspects of mRNA metabolism, such as splicing, export, stability, translation, and degradation, culminating in the fine-tuning of gene expression. Brain shows the highest abundance of m6A methylation in the body, which is developmentally altered. Within the brain, m6A methylation is biased toward neuronal transcripts and sensitive to neuronal activity. In a healthy brain, m6A maintains several developmental and physiological processes such as neurogenesis, axonal growth, synaptic plasticity, circadian rhythm, cognitive function, and stress response. The m6A imbalance contributes to the pathogenesis of acute and chronic CNS insults, brain cancer, and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review discussed the molecular mechanisms of m6A regulation and its implication in the developmental, physiological, and pathological processes of the brain.
Semi-Supervised Cyber Threat Identification in Dark Net Markets: A Transductive and Deep Learning Approach

Dark Net Marketplaces (DNMs), online selling platforms on the dark web, constitute a major component of the underground economy. Due to the anonymity and increasing accessibility of these platforms...
Natural History of Thyroid Disease in Children with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome

Context Thyroid ultrasound screening is recommended in children with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS) due to increased risk of thyroid neoplasia, but the natural history of thyroid disease in children with PHTS is unclear. Objective Determine the prevalence and natural history of thyroid disease in children with PHTS. Methods Retrospective cohort study (1998-2019) in an academic pediatric hospital of individuals with genetically confirmed PHTS diagnosed before age 19 years. Clinical, thyroid ultrasound, and laboratory characteristics are described. Primary outcomes were the prevalence of thyroid nodules ≥10 mm diameter and time course and risk factors for nodule development assessed by Cox regression analysis. Secondary outcomes included thyroid nodule requiring biopsy, other ultrasound findings, and prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease. Results Among 64 subjects with PHTS, 50 underwent thyroid ultrasound. A thyroid nodule ≥10 mm was diagnosed in 22/50 (44%) subjects at median (range) age 13.3 (7.0-22.9) years. Nodules were diagnosed earlier in females than in males (10.8 [7.0-17.9] vs 14.2 [9.9-22.9] years, P = .009). In multivariate analysis, risk of thyroid nodules was significantly associated with female sex (hazard ratio 2.90, 95% CI 1.16-7.27, P = .02) and inversely associated with the presence of neurologic findings of PHTS (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.10-0.69, P = .007). Abnormal-appearing lymph nodes with echogenic foci were observed by ultrasound in 20% of subjects, but these were not associated with malignancy. Autoimmune thyroid disease was present in 10/33 (30.3%) of subjects in whom it was assessed. Conclusion Thyroid disease is common in children with PHTS. This study supports current consensus recommendations for ultrasound screening.
Price Clustering, Preferences for Round Prices, and Expected Returns

Researchers have documented that individuals have a strong penchant for round numbers in a variety of settings, such as trading in financial markets. Beginning as early as the 1930s, empirical rese...
Making Sense of Genetic Information: The Promising Evolution of Clinical Stratification and Precision Oncology Using Machine Learning.

Precision medicine is a medical approach to administer patients with a tailored dose of treatment by taking into consideration a person’s variability in genes, environment, and lifestyles. The accumulation of omics big sequence data led to the development of various genetic databases on which clinical stratification of high-risk populations may be conducted. In addition, because cancers are generally caused by tumor-specific mutations, large-scale systematic identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in various tumors has propelled significant progress of tailored treatments of tumors (i.e., precision oncology). Machine learning (ML), a subfield of artificial intelligence in which computers learn through experience, has a great potential to be used in precision oncology chiefly to help physicians make diagnostic decisions based on tumor images. A promising venue of ML in precision oncology is the integration of all available data from images to multi-omics big data for the holistic care of patients and high-risk healthy subjects. In this review, we provide a focused overview of precision oncology and ML with attention to breast cancer and glioma as well as the Bayesian networks that have the flexibility and the ability to work with incomplete information. We also introduce some state-of-the-art attempts to use and incorporate ML and genetic information in precision oncology.
Black clients in expansion states who used opioids were more likely to access medication for opioid use disorder after ACA implementation.

Abstract Introduction Black people in the United States who use opioids receive less treatment and die from overdoses at higher rates than White people. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) decreases overdose risk. Implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the United States was associated with an increase in MOUD. To what extent racial disparity exists in MOUD following ACA implementation remains unclear. Using a national sample of people seeking treatment for opioids (clients), we compared changes in MOUD after the ACA to determine whether implementation was associated with increased MOUD for Black clients relative to White clients. Methods We identified 878,110 first episodes for clients with opioids as primary concern from SAMHDA's Treatment Episodes Dataset-Admissions (TEDS-A; 2007–2018). We performed descriptive and logistic regression analyses to estimate odds of MOUD for Black and White clients by Medicaid expansion status. We interacted ACA implementation with racial group and performed subpopulation analyses for Medicaid enrollees and criminal justice–referred clients. Results In expansion states post-ACA, MOUD increased from 33.6% to 51.3% for White clients and from 36.2% to 61.7% for Black clients. Pre-ACA, Black clients were less likely than White clients to use MOUD (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.88, 99th Confidence Interval (CI) = [0.85, 0.91]), and post-ACA, the change in odds of MOUD did not differ. Criminal justice–referred clients experienced less of a change in odds of MOUD among Black clients than among White clients (aOR = 0.74, CI = [0.62, 0.89]). Among Medicaid-insured clients, the change in odds of MOUD among Black clients was larger (aOR = 1.16, CI = [1.03, 1.30]). In the non–expansion states before 2014, Black clients were less likely to receive MOUD (aOR = 0.86, CI = [0.77, 0.95]) than White clients. After 2014, the change in odds of MOUD increased more for Black clients relative to White clients (aOR = 1.24, CI = [1.07, 1.44]). We did not find significant changes in MOUD for clients referred through the criminal justice system or with Medicaid. Conclusion The ACA was associated with increased use of MOUD among Black clients and reduction in treatment disparity between Black and White clients. For criminal justice–referred Black clients, disparities in MOUD persist. Black clients with Medicaid in expansion states had the greatest reduction in disparities.
Identifying oligodendrocyte enhancers governing Plp1 expression

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) produce myelin in the central nervous system (CNS), which accelerates the propagation of action potentials and supports axonal integrity. As a major component of CNS myelin, proteolipid protein 1 (Plp1) is indispensable for the axon-supportive function of myelin. Notably, this function requires the continuous high-level expression of Plp1 in OLs. Equally important is the controlled expression of Plp1, as illustrated by Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease for which the most common cause is PLP1 overexpression. Despite a decade-long search, promoter-distal OL enhancers that govern Plp1 remain elusive. We have recently developed an innovative method that maps promoter-distal enhancers to genes in a principled manner. Here, we applied it to Plp1, uncovering two OL enhancers for it (termed Plp1-E1 and Plp1-E2). Remarkably, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) interference epigenome editing showed that Plp1-E1 and Plp1-E2 do not regulate two genes in their vicinity, highlighting their exquisite specificity to Plp1. Assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-seq) data show that Plp1-E1 and Plp1-E2 are OL-specific enhancers that are conserved among human, mouse and rat. Hi-C data reveal that the physical interactions between Plp1-E1/2 and PLP1 are among the strongest in OLs and specific to OLs. We also show that Myrf, a master regulator of OL development, acts on Plp1-E1 and Plp1-E2 to promote Plp1 expression.
Designing ethicists

In the United States, disturbing concerns pertaining to both how putative bioethicists are perceived and the potential for the abuse of their power in connection with these perceptions compel close examination. This paper addresses these caveats by examining two fundamental and interrelated components in the image-construction of the ethicist: definitional and contextual. Definitional features reveal that perceptions and images of the ethicist are especially subject to distortion due to a lack of clarity as to the nature and qualifications of the ethicist. Furthermore, the clinical, professional, political, academic, and linguistic contexts in which these ethicists are engaged are contexts of disquieting degrees of power. I argue that the lack of definitional clarity as to what constitutes an ethicist combined with the above volatile contexts together set the stage for the abuse of power on the part of ethicists. Throughout, I question the extent of self-critical analyses among ethicists, and, in view of these components in image-construction and their relationship to power, I challenge the degree of integrity within the field. In conclusion, I propose some areas for further investigation.
Exploring the connection between air pollution and COVID-19 in Louisiana

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Minority communities, especially African Americans are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in the United States (US). In Louisiana, African Americans account 32.2% (1.5 mill...
Biomarkers for prognosis in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) encompass a diverse group of malignancies marked by histological heterogeneity and highly variable clinical outcomes. We performed a systematic review on potential prognostic biomarkers in PNETs by searching the PubMed database. A total of 472 manuscripts were reviewed in detail and 52 multivariate studies met the inclusion criteria proposed by the Reporting Recommendations for Tumor Marker Prognostic Studies (REMARK). These altogether analyzed 53 unique targets and 36 of them were statistically associated with survival.
Toward a Just Leadership Learning Ecology: A CHAT-IT Analysis of the Highlander Idea:

Purpose: This paper conceptualizes a just leadership learning ecology through an analysis of one nontraditional site of leadership preparation: the Highlander Research and Education Center (origina...
Jazz Matters: Sound, Place, and Time since Bebop

List of Illustrations Introduction Part I. Sound and Time 1. Being (and Becoming) John Coltrane: Listening for Jazz "Subjectivity" 2. Musicology beyond the Score and the Performance: Making Sense of the Creak on Miles Davis's "Old Folks" 3. Sex Mob and the Carnivalesque in Postwar Jazz Part II. Place and Time 4. Race, Place, and Nostalgia after the Counterculture: Keith Jarrett and Pat Metheny on ECM 5. Rethinking Jazz Education 6. Negotiating National Identity among American Jazz Musicians in Paris Acknowledgments Appendix 1. Sample of American Jazz Musicians Born Since 1950 Who Studied Jazz at the College Level Appendix 2. Interview Locations and Dates Notes Index