cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Methods to Reduce IV Catheter Related Bloodstream Infections

ISSUE: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common type of healthcare associated infection reported, with 80% attributed to the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter. Catheter associated UTIs (CAUTIs) result in increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, health care costs, and patient pain and inconvenience. PROJECT: A multidisciplinary team was formed to research and review nursing best-practices, guidelines, and evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of CAUTI. The team’s objective was to identify and implement best-practice nursing initiatives for the reduction of CAUTIs throughout the organization. Organizationwide education was developed and carried out to heighten awareness and highlight CAUTI prevention strategies. Education was delivered using a variety of methods (i.e. table tents in the staff cafeteria, posters in staff lounges, attendance at unit/department staff meetings, articles in the organization newsletter, and educational information provided to the medical staff). A nursing assessment tool that included criteria for catheter continuation, daily assessment of all urinary catheters, and documentation of the reason for catheter continuationwas developed and implemented. A nursedriven urinary catheter discontinuation protocol for the early removal of unnecessary urinary catheters was also developed. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was chosen to conduct a two-month trial of the protocol, followed by a two-month trial on all in-patient nursing units. To support the elements of the urinary catheter discontinuation protocol, additional bladder scanners were purchased for inpatient units. Full implementation of the discontinuation protocol occurred after final approval by the Medical Executive Committee and Nursing Shared Leadership Committees. RESULTS: CAUTI rates were reduced following implementation of evidence-based prevention measures. Initiatives resulted in an overall 30% reduction in the number of CAUTIs in 2011 (6) as compared to 2010 (9) in the organization. Also, to date, there have been zero CAUTIs identified in the ICU for over two years (last CAUTI reported June, 2010). LESSON LEARNED: Staff buy-in was essential for the success of our CAUTI prevention initiatives and required ongoing education and support throughout the process. Don’t assume that fundamental infection prevention strategies are being followed (e.g., proper hand hygiene, safe handling of indwelling catheters, aseptic technique for catheter insertion, and daily catheter care). Reinforcement of these important nursing concepts must be included early and throughout the CAUTI prevention education. For optimal success of CAUTI prevention initiatives, the urinary catheter discontinuation protocol must be truly nurse-driven. Nursing staff need encouragement to take ownership of their practice and understand the important role they have in patient safety initiatives.
Analysis on the unsuitability to cancel bypass duct in FGD system

Based on the safety of FGD system,seven main factors contributing to the safe operation of limestone/gypsum wet FGD system were researched. The results show that the bypass duct is unsuitable to be cancelled because of the low safety of FGD system in China. The countermeasures and suggestions were proposed in the design, and operation related to the canceling of FGD bypass duct.
Examination and Analysis of Cerebral Blood Flow of Children's Moyamoya Disease b y Transcranial Cerebral Doppler

Objective To observe the characteristic imaging of TCD an d to compare with the MRA in order to study the TCD value in diagnosing the chil dren's moyamoya disease. Methods We reviewed six moyamoya cases diagnosed by MRA and ana lysised their examination results of TCD. The six cases include four females and two males, which from four months old to twelve years old. Result The six cases of moyamoya have a certain characters. Each case was compa red with its TCD and MRA exam.①The stricture vessels diagnosed by MRA could b e detected by TCD, which shows the velocity of the blood flow higher.②When t he vessel was stricture seriously or even block, the velocity of the blood flow would lower than before, and sometimes we could not find the signal of the blood flow by TCD. ③If one vessels were stricture or block, the other vessel conne cted with it would be identified the blood flow higher as a result by TCD exam. Conclusion TCD may serve as a useful screening test to affor d early information for diagnosing such a disease.
Some important considerations in genotoxicity study for pharmaceuticals

Genotoxicity study is one of important parts of non-clinical safety studies for pharmaceuticals.Guidance on genotoxicity study for pharmaceuticals had already been released in October of 2007.Some currently important considerations in genotoxicity study for pharmaceuticals were discussed,combining with background and considerations during the process of composing the guidance.
Microvascular Surgery in Reconstruction of the Hand

The addition of microsurgical techniques to the practice of hand surgery makes feasible reconstructive procedures that were impossible 10 years ago. The free tissue transfers that have become a reliable part of clinical hand surgery are discussed.
The Structures of Silicon Clusters Doped with Two Gold Atoms, Si n Au2 (n = 1–10)

The geometric structures and properties of mixed silicon/gold clusters (Si n Au2; n = 1–10) are theoretically studied using density functional theory and coupled cluster calculations. Several new low lying isomers are found for most cluster sizes. New lowest energy isomers are found for Si7Au2, Si9Au2, and Si10Au2. Si1Au2 and Si3Au2 are predicted to be planar structures, whereas other sizes are three dimensional. Energetically, Si5Au2 and Si8Au2 are predicted to be more stable clusters compared to other sizes investigated here. For all lowest energy structures, gold atoms are bound exohedrally on the cluster and the frontier orbitals often show interactions between silicon p and gold d atomic orbitals. Only for the largest sized cluster, Si10Au2, does the cluster take the same structure of the pure Si10 cluster with Au atoms capping it. For other cluster sizes, at least one Au atom makes up part of the central structural motif. Natural bond order analysis is performed to further explore the bonding in each cluster. Silicon clusters doped with two gold atoms, Si n Au2 (n = 1–10) are studied by density functional and coupled cluster calculations. Pictured is the lowest energy isomer of Si7Au2, one of the new novel ground state structures reported here, and the calculated total density surface.
Attempts at Subversion (The 1970s)

It is widely claimed by contemporary French homosexual movements that the events of May 1968 brought about important changes in homosexual politics and lifestyles. This commonly shared understanding, however, could use some nuancing — it was not during the events themselves but in fact two or three years later that French homosexual politics rose up in the most radical and powerful forms ever witnessed until then and for that matter, since. Though “the libertarian atmosphere of May ‘68 might theoretically have opened up a space for sexual politics — making love and revolution, as the slogan had it — the immediate beneficiaries of the events were gauchiste groups like the Trotskyist Ligue communiste or the Maoist Gauche proletarienne [who believed] that homosexuality was a bourgeois vice.”2 Jacques Girard, a gay militant and former member of the Front homosexuel d’action revolutionnaire, recalls that “in 68’s concert of blaring horns, those of the homosexuals were not heard; however, when calm returned, a whispering could be heard, coming from over there, from the United States. In 1969, following the Christopher Street riots provoked by a police raid in the homosexual ghetto, the American Gay Liberation Front was born. [In France], there was a sigh of hope.”3
The Church’s Eucharistic Poverty in the Theologies of Jon Sobrino and Hans Urs von Balthasar

The article puts Jon Sobrino and Hans Urs von Balthasar into a mutually corrective dialogue regarding poverty and the church. Sobrino’s goals and outlook are laudable, but his proposal lacks an ade...
B–O–B Catalyzed Cycloadditions of Acrylic Acids

Lewis-acid-catalyzed cycloadditions of unesterified acrylic acids performed under solvent-free reaction conditions can be environmentally advantageous and afford increased product yields. However, there is also the potential for competing Lewis-acid-catalyzed polymerization reactions and the attendant fire/explosion risks associated with runaway polymerizations. BOB(OAc)4 (tetraacetyl diborate) and BOBPh4 (diphenylborinic anhydride), which are distinguished by an oxygen bonded to two boron atoms (B–O–B), catalyze high-yielding cycloadditions of unesterified acrylic acids under solvent-free reaction conditions without competing olefin polymerization.
Designing cellular automata-based scheduling algorithms

In this paper, we present a systematic approach to designing cellular automata- based algorithms for multiprocessor scheduling. We consider a simple case of two processors. However, we do not restrict parallel programs. We show how to design local neighborhoods and corresponding cellular automata (CA) for a given program graph. We also show how to discover, by genetic algorithm (GA), rules of CA - suitable for solving a given scheduling problem. We evaluate the discovered rules in terms of applicability to cope with different instances of the scheduling problem.
The Ubiquitous Existence of MicroRNA in Body Fluids

Featured Article: Weber J, Baxter D, Zhang S, Huang KH, Lee MJ, Galas DJ, Wang K. The microRNA spectrum in 12 body fluids. Clin Chem 2010;56:1733–41.2 Cell-free circulating microRNA (miRNA) has been at the center stage of biomarker discovery in recent years. Our Clinical Chemistry article featured here was a comprehensive survey of cell-free miRNA in different body fluids and demonstrated the existence of miRNA in all 12 different fluids tested. This finding suggested that cell-free miRNAs, like proteins and other biomolecules, were likely to exist in all bodily fluids and set the groundwork for exploring miRNA based disease markers in different biofluids. In addition to their possible biomarker applications, circulating miRNAs have been shown to possess specific biological activities that may have a clinically significant impact on human health (1). For example, miRNA in breast milk has been implicated in the health and development of infants (2). In 2008, Lawrie et al. first reported the detection of miRNA in serum from patients …
For Your Consideration (An Introduction to Walking With): Walking With

On November 9, 2016, we took a walk. The authors did not take a walk. Rather the “we” referred to in this instance is a large public forest-park and all that it is contained within it (vegetal, grass, tree trunks, trees, animals, insects, and so on), the sun, the air, a camera, and at least two humans. Simply put, the walk was a “walking in/with the world: the only kind of walking” (Manning 2012 p. 29).
Characteristics and Outcomes of Open Globe Trauma in the Urban versus Rural Population: A Single Center Retrospective Review

ABSTRACTPurpose: To examine the characteristics and outcomes of open globe injuries sustained by the urban population compared to the rural population. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 429 patients presenting to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Hospital with traumatic open globes from July 2005 to July 2013. Results: Rural patients had a longer time which elapsed from injury to presentation (P = 0.023, average 12.04 hours vs 7.53 hours). There was a higher incidence of patient transfer prior to arrival to UPMC Presbyterian Hospital (P = 0.018), patient follow-up elsewhere (P = 0.049), and patients sustaining intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs) (P = 0.009). Conclusions: Health care access is a well-known problem in rural areas and using rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) codes can help identify a population for risk factors or potential disparities in care. Rural patients sustained a higher rate of IOFBs; this should heighten the clinicians’ suspicion during the eva...
Programming for the Generalization of Communication to the Classroom Following Assessment and Training Outside of the Classroom.

This study demonstrated a method for integrating in-class and out-of-class procedures to assess and treat an adaptive behavior deficit. The assessment and intervention procedures were implemented t...
Topiramate in the catastrophic epilepsies of childhood.

Several epileptic syndromes that occur during childhood are characterized by severe treatment-resistant seizures, progressive loss of higher intellectual functions, and characteristic electroencephalographic abnormalities. These catastrophic epileptic syndromes include epileptic encephalopathy with diffuse slow spike waves (Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), West syndrome, progressive myoclonic epilepsies, and electrical status epilepticus during sleep. This article summarizes each syndrome and reviews the most recent information concerning the effectiveness of topiramate with respect to each condition. Suggestions are offered to help clinicians maximize topiramate's efficacy and tolerability in patients suffering with these syndromes. Overall, topiramate is a valuable antiepileptic medication in the treatment of catastrophic pediatric epileptic syndromes. (J Child Neurol 2000;15:S14-S21).
Estimating the Association of the 2017 and 2014 Hypertension Guidelines With Cardiovascular Events and Deaths in US Adults: An Analysis of National Data.

Importance The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association hypertension guideline recommends lower blood pressure (BP) thresholds for initiating antihypertensive medication and treatment goals than the 2014 evidence-based hypertension guideline. Objective To estimate the potential association of the 2017 and 2014 hypertension guidelines with the proportion of US adults defined as being hypertensive or recommended for antihypertensive treatment and with risk reduction of major cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Design, Setting, and Participants Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013 to 2016, we estimated the proportions of US adults with hypertension or recommended for antihypertensive treatment according to the 2017 and 2014 hypertension guidelines. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, antihypertensive clinical trials, and population-based cohort studies, we estimated risk reductions of CVD and all-cause mortality assuming the entire US adult population achieved guideline-recommended systolic BP (SBP) treatment goals. Data were analyzed between October 2017 and March 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures Proportions and numbers of individuals with hypertension or recommended for antihypertensive treatment and numbers of CVD and all-cause mortality reduction. Results According to the 2017 hypertension guideline, the prevalence of hypertension (BP level ≥130/80 mm Hg) was 45.4% (95% CI, 43.9%-46.9%), representing 105.3 (95% CI, 101.9-108.8) million US adults, which was significantly higher than estimates per the 2014 hypertension guideline (BP level ≥140/90 mm Hg): 32.0% (95% CI, 30.3%-33.6%) or 74.1 (95% CI, 70.3-77.9) million individuals, respectively. Additionally, the proportion of individuals recommended for antihypertensive treatment was significantly higher according to the 2017 hypertension guideline (35.9%; 95% CI, 34.2%-37.5%) compared with the 2014 hypertension guideline (31.1%; 95% CI, 29.6%-32.7%). Achieving the 2017 hypertension guideline SBP treatment goals is estimated to reduce 610 000 (95% CI, 496 000-734 000) CVD events and 334 000 (95% CI, 245 000-434 000) total deaths in US adults 40 years and older. Corresponding estimates after achieving the 2014 hypertension guideline SBP treatment goals were 270 000 (95% CI, 202 000-349 000) and 177 000 (95% CI, 123 000-241 000), respectively. Implementing the 2017 hypertension guideline is estimated to increase 62 000 hypotension and 79 000 acute kidney injury or failure events. Conclusions and Relevance Compared with the 2014 hypertension guideline, the 2017 hypertension guideline was associated with an increase in the proportion of adults recommended for antihypertensive treatment and a further reduction in major CVD events and all-cause mortality, but a possible increase in the number of adverse events in the United States.
On the Theory of the Class {A_{{\aleph _0}}} with Applications to Invariant Subspaces and the Bergman Shift Operator

Let H be a separable, infinite dimensional, complex Hilbert space, let L(H) denote the algebra of all bounded linear operators on H, and let C1(H) denote the ideal of trace-class operators in L(H) under the trace norm. The spectrum of an operator T in L(H) will be denoted by a(T). Let D be the open unit disc in C, and let T = ∂D. The spaces LP = Lp(T), 1 < p < co, are the usual Lebesgue spaces. One knows that Lœ is the dual space of L∞ under the bilinear functional \(\left\langle {f,g} \right\rangle = \left( {1/2\pi } \right)\int\limits_0^{2\pi } {f\left( {{e^{it}}} \right)g\left( {{e^{it}}} \right)} dt,f\varepsilon {L^\infty },g\varepsilon {L^1},\) and that L(H) is the dual space of C 1(H) under the bilinear functional \(\left\langle {T,K} \right\rangle = tr\left( {TK} \right),T\varepsilon L\left( H \right),K\varepsilon {C_1}\left( H \right)\)
Anti-Immigrant Politics Along with Institutional Incorporation?

The growth of anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe over the last two decades is pushing towards the renationalizing of particular features of membership politics (Giugni 2006; White 1999; Vertovec and Peach 1997; Weil 2008; Body-Gendrot and de Wihtol de Wenden 2007; Delanty 2011). Yet, this renationalizing of membership, even when ideologically strong, is institutionally weak given the increased formalization of the EU level. And although the EU level is still thin compared to that of the national state, it is beginning to alter the underlying conditions, which have fed the articulation between citizenship and the national state (Baubock 2006). At its most formal, the institutional development of the European Union and the strengthening of the European Human Rights Court, push the question of political membership towards a kind of European universalism (Jacobson and Ruffer 2006; Rubenstein and Adler 2000). I prefer to think of it as a trend towards the denationalizing of European politics. This is a denationalizing that (a) is fed by the emergence of multiple actors, groups, and communities increasingly keen on broader notions of political membership and unwilling automatically to identify with a national state (Soysal 1997; Tunstall 2006), and (b) can coexist with virulent nationalisms, a subject I have developed at length elsewhere (2008: ch 4).
Indication specific pricing for targeted therapies: Using bevacizumab as an example.

e18939Background: Medications in the U.S. are approved by the FDA based upon safety and efficacy data, not price. The object of this study was to model (or forecast) potential prices for bevacizuma...
Postdischarge Unplanned Care Events Among Commercially Insured Patients With an Observation Stay Versus Short Inpatient Admission

Study objective Observation stays are composing an increasing proportion of unscheduled hospitalizations in the United States, with unclear consequences for the quality of care. This study used a nationally representative data set of commercially insured patients hospitalized from the emergency department (ED) to compare 30-day postdischarge unplanned care events after an observation stay versus a short inpatient admission. Methods This was a retrospective analysis of ED hospitalizations using the 2015 Truven MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters data set. Adult observation stays and short inpatient hospitalizations of 2 days or less were identified and followed for 30 days from hospital discharge to identify unplanned care events, defined as a subsequent inpatient admission, observation stay, or return ED visit. A propensity score analysis was used to compare rates of unplanned events after each type of index hospitalization. Results Among the propensity-weighted cohorts, patients with an index observation stay were 28% more likely to experience any unplanned care event within 30 days of discharge compared with those with a short inpatient admission (20.4% versus 15.9%; risk ratio 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21 to 1.34). Specifically, patients in the observation stay group had substantially higher rates of postdischarge observation stays (4.8% versus 1.9%; odds ratio 2.60; 95% CI 2.15 to 3.16) and ED revisits with discharge (11.1% versus 8.8%; odds ratio 1.26; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.44) compared with those in the inpatient group, but were less likely to be readmitted as inpatients (6.4% versus 7.2%; odds ratio 0.90; 95% CI 0.83 to 0.96). Conclusion Commercially insured patients with an observation stay from the ED have a higher risk of postdischarge acute care events compared with similar patients with a short inpatient admission. Additional research is necessary to determine the extent to which quality of care, including care transitions, may differ between these 2 groups.
Physical Function and Well-Being in HFpEF: The Constrained Mechanics and Compensatory Strategies

![Figure][1] ![Figure][1] The normal heart has a remarkable capacity to match ventricular filling and cardiac output to complex needs during exercise, but an inability to maintain “cardiac reserve” is often an early manifestation of cardiac dysfunction. Ventricular mechanics are
Lowering the Sidelobe Level of a Two-Way Array Factor for an Array With Uniform Transmit and Uniform Receive Arrays

A two-way array factor is the product of the transmit array factor and the receive array factor of a radar. Lowering the sidelobe level (SLL) of the two-way pattern traditionally requires amplitude tapering the transmit and receive apertures. This communication demonstrates the two-way pattern sidelobe reduction using only uniform transmit and receive apertures. If both array factors are uniform, then the expected peak two-way SLL is a little less than −27 dB. This level can be reduced without amplitude tapering if the receive array is made smaller by turning off edge elements. This communication demonstrates this idea for uniform linear and planar arrays. An additional 6.7 dB reduction is possible for the two-way maximum SLL.
Patterns in Nongovernmental Community Action in Small Communities.

Leaders in small communities often search for information about successful community projects conducted in communities other than their own. This need helped to prompt a series of case studies of u...
Solving the QoS Multicast Routing Problems Using Genetic Algorithms

Multicasting has been viewed as a viable means with high potential of improving service efficiency and quality in distributing multimedia information through networks. Because of its strategic importance, many interesting research topics have been articulated. One of such emerging topics is the multicast routing problem. This study explores the use of genetic algorithms (GAs) for solving the multicast routing problems when multiple quality of services (QoS) requirements are presented; compares for a small network the performance of two GAs with different representation schemes and constraints handling methods; and examines for a small- and a medium- size networks the effect of population sizes and mutation probabilities on solution quality. Our simulation results indicate that it is critical to select a suitable representation method and a set of appropriate parameters in order to obtain good performance.
LowTemperature Pyrolyzed Soft Carbon as High CapacityK‑Ion Anode

K-ion batteries (KIBs) are emerging as an alternative solution for large-scale energy storage. Carbon materials, including graphite and nongraphitic carbons such as soft carbons and hard carbons, h...
Vulnerabilities of Power System Operations to Load Forecasting Data Injection Attacks

We study the security threats of power system operation brought by a class of data injection attacks upon load forecasting algorithms. In particular, with minimal assumptions on the knowledge and ability of the attacker, we design attack data on input features for load forecasting algorithms in a black-box approach. System operators can be oblivious of such wrong load forecasts, which lead to uneconomical or even insecure decisions in commitment and dispatch. This paper is the first attempt to bring up the security issues of load forecasting algorithms to our knowledge, and show that accurate load forecasting algorithm is not necessarily robust to malicious attacks. More severely, attackers are able to design targeted attacks on system operations strategically with additional topology information. We demonstrate the impact of load forecasting attacks on two IEEE test cases. We show our attack strategy is able to cause load shedding with high probability under various settings in the 14-bus test case, and also demonstrate system-wide threats in the 118-bus test case with limited local attacks.
Algebraic Channel Estimation Algorithms for FDD Massive MIMO Systems

We consider downlink (DL) channel estimation for frequency division duplex-based massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems under the multipath model. Our goal is to provide fast and accurate channel estimation from a small amount of DL training overhead. Prior art tackles this problem using compressive sensing or classic array processing techniques (e.g., ESPRIT and MUSIC). However, these methods have challenges in some scenarios, e.g., when the number of paths is greater than the number of received antennas. Tensor factorization methods can also be used to handle such challenging cases, but it is hard to solve the associated optimization problems. In this paper, we propose an efficient channel estimation framework to circumvent such difficulties. Specifically, a structural training sequence that imposes a tensor structure on the received signal is proposed. We show that with such a training sequence, the parameters of DL MIMO channels can be provably identified even when the number of paths largely exceeds the number of received antennas—under very small training overhead. Our approach is a judicious combination of Vandermonde tensor algebra and a carefully designed conjugate-invariant training sequence. Unlike existing tensor-based channel estimation methods that involve hard optimization problems, the proposed approach consists of very lightweight algebraic operations, and thus, real-time implementation is within reach. Simulation results are carried out to showcase the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Evaluation and Classification of Physical and Psychological Stress in Firefighters using Heart Rate Variability

Stress detection has a huge potential for disease prevention and management, and to improve the quality of life of people. Also, work safety can be improved if stress is timely and reliably detected. The availability of low-cost consumer wearable devices that monitor vital-signs, gives access to stress detection schemes. Heart rate variability (HRV), a stress-related vital-sign, was derived from wearable device data to reliably determine stress-levels. In order to build and train a deployable stress-detector, we collected labeled HRV data in controlled environments, where subjects were exposed to physical, psychological and combined stress. We then applied machine learning to separate and identify the different stress types and understand the relationship with HRV data. The resulting C5 decision tree model is capable of identifying the stress type with 88% accuracy, in a 1-minute time window. For the first time physical and psychological stress can be distinguished with a 1-minute time resolution from smoke-divers, firefighters, who enter high-risk environments to rescue people, and experience intense physical and psychological stress. To improve our model, we created an integrated system to acquire expert labels in real-time from firefighters during their training in a Rescue Maze. A next goal is to transfer the algorithms into generic systems for monitoring and coaching high-risk professionals to improve their stress resilience during training and reduce their risk in the field.
Higher Risk for Reintervention in Patients after Stenting for Radiation-Induced Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis: A Single-Center Analysis and Systematic Review

Background This study aimed to review short- and long-term outcomes of all carotid artery stenting (CAS) in patients with radiation-induced (RI) internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis compared with patients with atherosclerotic stenosis (AS). Methods We performed a single-center, multisite case–control study of transfemoral carotid artery intervention in patients stented for RI or AS. Cases of stented RI carotid arteries were identified using a CAS database covering January 2000 to December 2019. These patients were randomly matched 2:1 with stented patients because of AS by age, sex, and year of CAS. A conditional logistic regression model was performed to estimate the odds of reintervention in the RI group. Finally, a systematic review was performed to assess the outcomes of RI stenosis treated with CAS. Results There were 120 CAS in 113 patients because of RI ICA stenosis. Eighty-nine patients (78.8%) were male, and 68 patients (60.2%) were symptomatic. The reasons for radiation included most commonly treatment for diverse malignancies of the head and neck in 109 patients (96.5%). The mean radiation dose was 58.9 ± 15.6 Gy, and the time from radiation to CAS was 175.3 ± 140.4 months. Symptoms included 31 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), 21 strokes (7 acute and 14 subacute), and 17 amaurosis fugax. The mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale in acute strokes was 8.7 ± 11.2. In asymptomatic patients, the indication for CAS was high-grade stenosis determined by duplex ultrasound. All CAS were successfully completed. Reinterventions were more frequent in the RI ICA stenosis cohort compared with the AS cohort (10.1% vs. 1.4%). Reinterventions occurred in 14 vessels, and causes for reintervention were restenosis in 12 followed by TIA/stroke in two vessels. On conditional regression modeling, patients with RI ICA stenosis were at a higher risk for reintervention (odds ratio = 7.1, 95% confidence interval = 2.1–32.8; P = 0.004). The mean follow-up was 33.7 ± 36.9 months, and the mortality across groups was no different (P = 0.12). Conclusions In our single-center, multisite cohort study, patients who underwent CAS for RI ICA stenosis experienced a higher rate of restenosis and a higher number of reinterventions compared with CAS for AS. Although CAS is safe and effective for this RI ICA stenosis cohort, further data are needed to reduce the risk of restenosis, and close patient surveillance is warranted. In our systematic review, CAS was considered an excellent alternative option for the treatment of patients with RI ICA stenosis. However, careful patient selection is warranted because of the increased risk of restenosis on long-term follow-up.
Uniendo Familias Latinas: Testing the Spillover Hypothesis With Latino Mothers and Fathers:

Consistent with the spillover hypothesis, previous research has found support for the benefits of a healthy marital relationship on the parent–child relationship. However, there is a paucity of res...
Hypnotic Enhancement of Virtual Reality Distraction Analgesia during Thermal Pain: A Randomized Trial.

Excessive pain during medical procedures is a pervasive health challenge. This study tested the (additive) analgesic efficacy of combining hypnotic analgesia and virtual reality (VR) pain distracti...
Local religious beliefs and insurance companies’ risk-taking behaviour

We empirically examine the effect of local religious beliefs on the risk-taking behaviour of U.S. life insurers headquartered in that region. We distinguish between insurers that predominantly write annuities and insurers that predominantly write life insurance policies; the annuity business is relatively riskier than writing life insurance. Insurers headquartered in high-Catholic or low-Protestant areas are more likely to be annuity writers. Annuity writers located in high-Catholic or low-Protestant areas invest more in risky assets and exhibit higher investment return volatilities, as well as a higher volatility of their return on assets. Overall, our results suggest that local culture has significant influences on life insurers’ behaviour.
Comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation of the right heart in patients with pulmonary vascular diseases: the PVDOMICS experience.

Aims There is a wide spectrum of diseases associated with pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary vascular remodelling, and right ventricular dysfunction. The NIH-sponsored PVDOMICS network seeks to perform comprehensive clinical phenotyping and endophenotyping across these disorders to further evaluate and define pulmonary vascular disease. Methods and results Echocardiography represents the primary non-invasive method to phenotype cardiac anatomy, function, and haemodynamics in these complex patients. However, comprehensive right heart evaluation requires the use of multiple echocardiographic parameters and optimized techniques to ensure optimal image acquisition. The PVDOMICS echo protocol outlines the best practice approach to echo phenotypic assessment of the right heart/pulmonary artery unit. Conclusion Novel workflow processes, methods for quality control, data for feasibility of measurements, and reproducibility of right heart parameters derived from this study provide a benchmark frame of reference. Lessons learned from this protocol will serve as a best practice guide for echocardiographic image acquisition and analysis across the spectrum of right heart/pulmonary vascular disease.
Effect of almond hulls on the performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and body composition of laying hens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate 2 varieties of almond hulls (prime and California type hulls) as an alternative feed ingredient on the performance, egg quality, nutrient digestibility, and body composition using a total of 100 23-week-old Hy-Line W36 hens. Treatments consisted of a control diet based on corn and soybean meal; T2 and T3 were formulated to contain 7.5 and 15% of prime hulls; and T4 and T5 contained 7.5 and 15% of California type hulls. Inclusion of prime hulls and California type hulls had no effects on feed intake, egg laying rate, and feed conversion ratio, but California type hulls at 7.5% decreased (P < 0.001) body weight gain compared to the control. Prime hulls at 7.5% and California type hulls at both levels improved (P ≤ 0.022) AMEn and N digestibility. Both prime hulls and California type hulls had no effects on egg size, specific gravity, Haugh unit, and percentages of yolk, albumen and shell, but yolk color appeared greener and less yellow (P ≤ 0.009) by prime hulls and less yellow (P = 0.001) by California type hulls. For body composition, prime hulls and California type hulls at both levels lowered (P ≤ 0.017) body fat, and California type hulls at 7.5% decreased (P = 0.001) lean weight. In summary, inclusion of prime hulls and California type hulls up to 15% had no negative effect on egg production and egg quality while reduced the body fat percentage and mass.
Summary of comparative analysis and conclusions from OECD/NEA LWR-UAM benchmark Phase I

Abstract In recent years, large efforts have been devoted to Light Water Reactor (LWR) Uncertainty Quantification (UQ). In 2006, the LWR Uncertainty Analysis in Modeling (UAM) benchmark was launched with an aim to investigate the uncertainty propagation in all modeling stages of the LWRs and guide uncertainty and sensitivity analysis methodology development. This article summarizes the benchmark activities for the standalone neutronics phase (Phase I), which includes three main exercises: Exercise I-1: “Cell Physics,” Exercise I-2: “Lattice Physics,” and Exercise I-3: “Core Physics.” A comparative analysis of the Phase I results is performed in this article for all the considered LWRs types: Three Mile Island – 1 Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR), Peach Bottom – 2 Boiling Water Reactor (BWR), Kozloduy – 6 Water - Water Energetic Reactor (VVER) and a Generation-III reactor. It was found, for all major exercises, that the predicted uncertainty of the system eigenvalue is highly dependent on the choice of the covariance libraries used in the UQ process and is less sensitive to the solution method, nuclear data library and UQ method. For all four reactor types, the observed relative standard deviation across all exercises is approximately 0.5% for the UO2 fuel. In the pin cell and lattice calculations with MOX fuel this uncertainty increases to 1%. The main reason is the larger Pu-239 nu-bar uncertainty compared to the U-235 nu-bar. The largest contributors to the eigenvalue uncertainties are the U-235 nu-bar and the U-238 capture in the UO2 fuel and the Pu-239 nu-bar in the MOX fuel. In the assembly lattice exercises, higher uncertainties are predicted for the fast group than the thermal group constants with differences up to one order of magnitude. This is attributed to the larger uncertainties of most cross-sections at high energies. The obtained correlation matrices share some common major trends but also exhibit strong differences in case by case comparisons indicating an impact of the selected neutronics modeling and nuclear data library. In the core exercises, the predicted relative standard deviation of the radial and axial power, for most of the cores, is below 10%. An exception is the radial power profile of the Generation-III core, when a mixture of UOX/MOX assemblies is considered. Finally, it is important to note that the bias in most of the studies is significant and up to the same order of the estimated uncertainty. This indicates a need for better quantification of the bias/variance through more code to code and code to experiments comparisons.
A displacement correlation method for stress intensity factor extraction from 3D fractures in anisotropic materials

Abstract A numerical method to extract stress intensity factors (SIFs) from 3D fractures in anisotropic materials is presented. The formulation of a displacement correlation method that is valid for linear elastic materials with arbitrary symmetry in their elastic properties is given in detail. An algorithm for the numerical implementation of the method is also given. The methodology can take an approximate displacement field from any numerical method as input to the extraction process. However, to return accurate stress intensity factors an accurate numerical displacement field is required. In this work, this is provided by a Generalized Finite Element Method. Several verification problems show that the anisotropic displacement correlation method is robust and can extract accurate SIFs. The methodology is used in a parametric study of crack–crack interactions in a high-strength aluminum alloy to demonstrate a practical application. More than 200 simulations are run using the Generalized Finite Element Method, which are largely able to be scripted and ran without user intervention after one simulation is set up.
Experience in neuromuscular diseases in children and adolescents and their comorbidities in a tertiary hospital.

INTRODUCTION Neuromuscular diseases include a large group of heterogeneous and rare pathologies that affect different components of the motor unit. It is essential to optimize resources to know the prevalence of comorbidities in the most frequent groups to establish an early multidisciplinary approach in a specialized setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective descriptive study of pediatric and adolescent patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs). The Inclusion criteria were NMDs patients with motor neuron involvement divided into three groups, depending on the affected component of the motor unit. Group I: involvement of the motor neuron; Group II: peripheral neuropathies; Group III: myopathies. Demographic variables, association with comorbidities, need for respiratory support, and rehabilitative treatment were collected in each group. RESULTS Ninety-six patients who met the inclusion criteria were studied. In group I, when compared to the other two groups, a higher incidence of scoliosis (68.3%, p = 0.011), deformity of the rib cage (31.3%, p = 0.0001), chronic respiratory insufficiency (62.5%, p = 0.001) and bronchial aspiration (12.5%, p = 0.03) was detected. In this group, 50%of the patients required non-invasive mechanical ventilation (p = 0.0001). The in-hospital requirement for respiratory physiotherapy was higher in group I (75%, p = 0.001). We observed a higher incidence of scoliosis in Group III compared to Group II. CONCLUSIONS Neuromuscular diseases with motor neuron involvement present more comorbidities and require an early approach after diagnosis to improve prognosis.
Unsolvable Terms in Typed Lambda Calculus with Fixpoint Operators (Extended Abstract)

We consider the finitely typed lambda calculus with "fixed-point" combinators Yσ of each type (σ→σ)→σ satisfying the equation Y=λf:σ→σ.f(Yf). (1) This formal system models computations with recursively defined equations. The decision problem for equality of terms of this calculus is open. We present a procedure for deciding when a λ-Y-term is "unsolvable"; this implies decidability of equations between λ-Y-terms and λ-terms without Y's. We also give tight characterizations of unsolvable terms under certain syntactic constraints.
Chiral Lagrangians and pion-field redefinition

An explicit solution of the differential equation for Weinberg’s class of chiral Lagrangians, with arbitraryf(π2), is given here. On the contrary, for any given symmetry-breaking term the explicit solution of the correspondingf(π2) is not found. We also construct here a chiral Lagrangian which has the advantage of satisfying the «special» PCAC and of being independent of field redefinition and further the corresponding explicit solution off(π2) is found. Two examples, corresponding toN=1, 2 in Weinberg’s class are discussed. The π-π scattering lengths calculated from our proposed Lagrangian agree with Schwinger’s results.
Overcoming Student Retention Issues In Higher Education Online Programs

Pressure exists to attract and retain students in higher education. Online educational programs have the potential to increase the number of students who can enroll in degree-bearing institutions. Explored in the qualitative study using a modified three-round Delphi technique was the phenomenon of consistently lower student retention rates in fully online programs in higher education, as compared to student retention rates in ground-based programs. Experts suggested that student self-discipline, instructor engagement and response time in courses, and the need for institutions to offer online students an array of support services contribute to student retention in fully online programs. Panelists revealed concerns and practices that may influence student retention. These practices ultimately relate to social and academic integration.
How to Do Things with Land: A Distributive Perspective on Rural Livelihoods in Southern Africa

Discussions on land use and land reform too often reduce the land question to the agrarian question. Yet a rich empirical literature in the region shows that producing agricultural goods is really only one of many, many ways in which land is used, and not necessarily the most important. This paper argues that many of the ways in which land is used (often labelled ‘social’ or ‘cultural’) are in fact best understood as part of processes of distribution that are a vital part of many poor Southern Africans' livelihoods. An exclusive focus on production as the problem, and more productive agriculture as the solution, blinds us both to most of the things that people, in fact, do with land, and to many of the most important issues facing low-income rural people. Giving a more central place to processes of distribution may help us to see just how much is lost if we allow distribution to be treated as an afterthought to production – or the land question to be reduced to the agrarian question.
A little hard to swallow

Eating a ‘grey goo’ of nanoparticles may seem unpalatable, but the food industry believes that nanotechnology could deliver commercial benefits for the processing and preservation of food (Fig 1). However, as with all new technologies, the question arises as to whether ingesting such particles—some of which are being used to kill microorganisms in food—might also have potential negative effects on human health. Because of major food‐producers' increasing interest in nanotechnology, the question is becoming relevant to researchers as well as regulators. Figure 1. Potential benefits of using nanotechnology in the food industry > … the food industry believes that nanotechnology could deliver commercial benefits for the processing and preservation of food Nanotechnology involves the use of extremely small particles that range from a few nanometres in size—roughly half the diameter of a DNA strand—to 100s of nanometres—about the size of cell organelles and viruses. Nanoparticles per se are not man‐made, as they occur naturally in various forms such as oceanic spray and fine sand. Human‐engineered particles have been around for years in cosmetics, sunscreens and cleaning products. Now, however, the food industry wants to use nanotechnology to extend the freshness of products, detect spoilage and inhibit the growth of microorganisms. Given this, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a non‐regulatory ‘guidance’ asserting the critical need to better understand the reactivity of engineered nanoparticles. The agency is specifically concerned about the ‘deliberate manipulation and control of particle size’ as such materials might have an impact on public health and safety (http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/guidances/ucm257698.htm). Many critics of the food industry's use of nanotechnology think the guidance document is not sufficient and that the US government should take regulatory action. Among them is J. Clarence Davies, who chaired the US National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Decision Making for Regulating Chemicals in the Environment and who was involved in creating the US …
Strange attractor symmetric icons

Abstract Aesthetically appealing patterns are produced by searching a class of nonlinear maps for chaotic solutions and then transforming the coordinates so that the resulting strange attractors are contained within a sector of a circle, which is then replicated at various angles to produce images that combine the symmetry of the resulting displays with the fractal nature of the underlying attractors. Sample images, computer code in BASIC, and suggestions for enhancing the quality of the images are given.
Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies of hydrogen effects in copper and CuAl alloys

Abstract In order to study the hydrogen effects of cathodic charging, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed on pure copper, and scanning electron microscopy fractography on pure copper and two CuAl alloys. In the TEM of pure copper, increases in the density of hydrogen-induced dislocation loops and in dislocation cell formation were observed, but no obvious effect of hydrogen on stacking fault energy was observed. In the fractography of copper and CuAl alloys, again no obvious effect of hydrogen on stacking fault energy was seen. This is in accord with earlier work in which it was found that, although aluminum additions increased the fracture strain of the alloys relative to copper, the reduction of fracture strain by hydrogen charging was constant at about 5% for all the three materials studied.