cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of acute myocardial infarction. 4. Other complications and rehabilitation.

In addition to the arrhythmias, common complications of acute myocardial infarction include heart failure, pulmonary edema, cardiogenic shock, embolism, heart murmurs, ventricular aneurysm, and postmyocardial infarction syndrome. Posthospital care of the patient with acute myocardial infarction involves an individual, progressive program of exercise and a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol with a moderate amount of polyunsaturated fat and carbohydrate.
A Review of "Is my husband gay, straight, or bi?: A guide for women concerned about their men".

Is My Husband Gay, Straight, or Bi?: A Guide for Women Concerned About Their Men, by Joe Kort with Alexander P. Morgan. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2014, 221 pages, $36.00 (hardc...
Ibrutinib Enhances the Anti-Tumor Immune Response Induced By Intratumoral Injection of a TLR9 Ligand

We have designed a novel approach for treating tumors utilizing a combination of active immunotherapy and targeted kinase inhibition. We injected tumors with unmethylated CG-enriched oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG), an agonist for the toll like receptor 9 (TLR9). This in situ CpG injection resulted in local tumor eradication by NK cells and macrophages but on its own was not able to induce a systemic anti-tumor immune response. Ibrutinib is an irreversible inhibitor of Bruton9s tyrosine kinase (Btk), a key enzyme in the signaling pathway downstream of B Cell receptor (BCR) is now known to also inhibit ITK, a key enzyme in the survival of Th2 T cells. By doing so, it can shift the balance to the more effective Th1 immune response. In our murine model, the combination of in situ injection of CpG and systemic treatment with Ibrutinib resulted in eradication of tumor cells not only in the local site but also at distant sites. This anti-tumor immune response required both CD4 and CD8 T cells as the effect was lost in nude, scid and T cell depleted mice. Additionally, transferred T cells from animals previously treated with CpG and Ibrutinib protected na•ve mice from tumor challenge. This immune-enhancing effect of Ibrutinib is unexpected. It reflects on the mechanism of action of the drug against B cell malignancies and it provides a novel way of enhancing anti-tumor immune responses against other types of cancer. A. six to eight weeks BALB/C mice were inoculated with 1x106 H11 cells s.c. into the right and left sides of their abdomen, tumor growth was monitored with a digital caliper. Therapy was started when tumors reached a size of 0.7-1cm in the largest diameter, CpG (100µg/injection) was given intratumorally to the left tumor every day in days 1-5, Ibrutinib (6mg/kg) was given daily, intraperitonealy (IP) on days 1-8. B. Growth curve of the right (non-treated) tumor C. Mice survival D. Mice at day 4 after treatment. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Social Justice Pedagogy and Beginning Teachers

Dominant, pervasive conceptualizations and the institutional culture and norms of schools are rigid, regulated, striated, and overcoded so individuals (teachers and students) participate in socially patterned behaviors and ways of thinking. From a rhizomatic perspective, schools are full of molar lines—including transmission teaching (the dispensing of information from the teacher to the student), which still serves as the dominant form of instruction, particularly in urban, high poverty settings (Haberman, 2010).
Cannabidiol-Δ 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol interactions on acute pain and locomotor activity

Abstract Background Previous studies suggest that cannabidiol (CBD) may potentiate or antagonize Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol’s (THC) effects. The current study examined sex differences in CBD modulation of THC-induced antinociception, hypolocomotion, and metabolism. Methods In Experiment 1, CBD (0, 10 or 30 mg/kg) was administered 15 min before THC (0, 1.8, 3.2, 5.6 or 10 mg/kg), and rats were tested for antinociception and locomotion 15–360 min post-THC injection. In Experiments 2 and 3, CBD (30 mg/kg) was administered 13 h or 15 min before THC (1.8 mg/kg); rats were tested for antinociception and locomotion 30–480 min post-THC injection (Experiment 2), or serum samples were taken 30–360 min post-THC injection to examine CBD modulation of THC metabolism (Experiment 3). Results In Experiment 1, CBD alone produced no antinociceptive effects, while enhancing THC-induced paw pressure but not tail withdrawal antinociception 4–6 h post-THC injection. CBD alone increased locomotor activity at 6 h post-injection, but enhanced THC-induced hypolocomotion 4–6 h post-THC injection, at lower THC doses. There were no sex differences in CBD-THC interactions. In Experiments 2 and 3, CBD did not significantly enhance THC’s effects when CBD was administered 13 h or 15 min before THC; however, CBD inhibited THC metabolism, and this effect was greater in females than males. Conclusions These results suggest that CBD may enhance THC’s antinociceptive and hypolocomotive effects, primarily prolonging THC’s duration of action; however, these effects were small and inconsistent across experiments. CBD inhibition of THC metabolism as well other mechanisms likely contribute to CBD-THC interactions on behavior.
On the spin states of habitable zone exoplanets around M dwarfs: the effect of a near-resonant companion

One longstanding problem for the potential habitability of planets within M dwarf systems is their likelihood to be tidally locked in a synchronously rotating spin state. This problem thus far has largely been addressed only by considering two objects: the star and the planet itself. However, many systems have been found to harbor multiple planets, with some in or very near to mean-motion resonances. The presence of a planetary companion near a mean-motion resonance can induce oscillatory variations in the mean-motion of the planet, which we demonstrate can have significant effects on the spin-state of an otherwise synchronously rotating planet. In particular, we find that a planetary companion near a mean-motion resonance can excite the spin states of planets in the habitable zone of small, cool stars, pushing otherwise synchronously rotating planets into higher amplitude librations of the spin state, or even complete circulation resulting in effective stellar days with full surface coverage on the order of years or decades. This increase in illuminated area can have potentially dramatic influences on climate, and thus on habitability. We also find that the resultant spin state can be very sensitive to initial conditions due to the chaotic nature of the spin state at early times within certain regimes. We apply our model to two hypothetical planetary systems inspired by the K00255 and TRAPPIST-1 systems, which both have Earth-sized planets in mean-motion resonances orbiting cool stars.
Forbidden subgraphs for chorded pancyclicity

Abstract We call a graph G pancyclic if it contains at least one cycle of every possible length m , for 3 ≤ m ≤ | V ( G ) | . In this paper, we define a new property called chorded pancyclicity. We explore forbidden subgraphs in claw-free graphs sufficient to imply that the graph contains at least one chorded cycle of every possible length 4 , 5 , … , | V ( G ) | . In particular, certain paths and triangles with pendant paths are forbidden.
An Afropolitan 2017 update

ABSTRACTIt has been over a decade since the publication of Taiye Selasi's essay “Bye Bye Babar” (2005) that viralized the term Afropolitan, engendering a controversy over its pros and cons. Yet the debate over the Afropolitan/Afropolitanism must resolve itself to art that is reflective and valid of the individual and his/her work at large, how transferable it is to the human experience and how it responds to where Africa's future fits into the grand scheme of things: “One must decide what comprises ‘African culture’ beyond pepper soup and filial piety” (Selasi, “Bye Bye Babar”). It must be remembered that Taiye Selasi's goal was to define a group of writers who reside in various capitals and whose works give a broader sense of who and what an African writer is.
Complete Genome Sequence of Human Coronavirus NL63 CN0601/14, First Isolated in South Korea

We report here the complete genome sequence of the human coronavirus NL63 CN0601/14 strain, first isolated from South Korea. It contains 18-nucleotide discontinuous deletions of the open reading frame 1a (ORF1a) and spike regions. This study will aid in our understanding of the complete genome sequences of isolated coronaviruses in South Korea.
Dynamic Security Games with Incomplete Information

In this chapter, we continue our exploration of dynamic security games with information asymmetry. As compared to the previous chapter, the discussions in this chapter focus on the complementary scenarios where the defender lacks information about the ongoing security competitions. Such scenarios exist in many practical security problems. The framework of Bayesian SG will be employed in this chapter to model and analyze such incomplete information dynamic security problems. Accordingly, a new algorithm, termed Bayesian Nash-Q, that allows the defender to infer the missing information based on repeated interactions with the attacker and the dynamic environment will be presented. This algorithm is a natural combination of the conventional repeated Bayesian games and the Nash-Q algorithm. For this reason, our discussion starts from reviewing some elementary concepts of Bayesian games, and then the Bayesian SG model and the Bayesian Nash-Q algorithm will be discussed in details.
Pretreatment Rostral Anterior Cingulate Cortex Theta Activity in Relation to Symptom Improvement in Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains challenging to treat. Although several clinical and demographic variables have been found to predict poor antidepressant response, these markers have not been robustly replicated to warrant implementation in clinical care. Increased pretreatment rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) theta activity has been linked to better antidepressant outcomes. However, no prior study has evaluated whether this marker has incremental predictive validity over clinical and demographic measures. Objective To determine whether increased pretreatment rACC theta activity would predict symptom improvement regardless of randomization arm. Design, Setting, and Participants A multicenter randomized clinical trial enrolled outpatients without psychosis and with chronic or recurrent MDD between July 29, 2011, and December 15, 2015 (Establishing Moderators and Biosignatures of Antidepressant Response for Clinical Care [EMBARC]). Patients were consecutively recruited from 4 university hospitals: 634 patients were screened, 296 were randomized to receive sertraline hydrochloride or placebo, 266 had electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, and 248 had usable EEG data. Resting EEG data were recorded at baseline and 1 week after trial onset, and rACC theta activity was extracted using source localization. Intent-to-treat analysis was conducted. Data analysis was performed from October 7, 2016, to January 19, 2018. Interventions An 8-week course of sertraline or placebo. Main Outcomes and Measures The 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score (assessed at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8). Results The 248 participants (160 [64.5%] women, 88 [35.5%] men) with usable EEG data had a mean (SD) age of 36.75 (13.15) years. Higher rACC theta activity at both baseline (b = −1.05; 95% CI, −1.77 to −0.34;P = .004) and week 1 (b = −0.83; 95% CI, −1.60 to −0.06;P Conclusions and Relevance Increased pretreatment rACC theta activity represents a nonspecific prognostic marker of treatment outcome. This is the first study to date to demonstrate that rACC theta activity has incremental predictive validity. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT01407094
Original investigations into the diagnosis and treatment of ejaculatory dysfunction.

The method employed is simple, harmless and—above all—not objectionable to patients. In cases such as those described, it is preferable to other therapeutic measures, which are too often both prolonged and useless. —Schellen T. Induction of ejaculation by electrovibration. Fertil Steril 1968;19(4):566–9. Retrograde ejaculation was associated with stricture of the urethra of long standing. A tight stricture may allow passage of urine but not semen, which is more viscid. —Girgis SM, Etriby A, El-Hefnawy H, Kahil S. Aspermia: a survey of 49 cases. Fertil Steril 1968;19(4):580–8.
The Detection of ENU-Induced Mutants in Mice by Electrophoresis and the Problem of Evaluating the Mutation Rate Increase

Electrophoretic methods of mutant detection in mice are described. Spermatogonial exposure of parental male mice to a 250 mg/kg dose of ethylnitrosourea resulted in greatly elevated frequencies of electrophoretically detectable mutants in their F1 progeny. Two major categories of mutants were observed, deficiency mutants and electrophoretic mobility mutants. Deficiency mutants were induced to higher average frequencies than electrophoretic mobility mutants. Since no newly arisen mutants were found in control groups, the spontaneous background mutation rates are not known. However, various comparisons with previous data suggest that ENU caused a 1000- or greater-fold increase in the spontaneous mutation rate at some loci.
Modeling command entities

A Command Entity (CE) is a goal-oriented intelligent agent specifically designed to command and control other agents. The CE niche, most often a military battlefield, is a complex, dynamic, adversarial environment in which a CE must balance the needs for thorough planning with the need for quick reactions to changing conditions. We describe the requirements of this environment, and how it constrains the design of CEs. Examples from several CE designs are used. The paper concentrates on the areas of planning, knowledge and teamwork.
E-cigarette Usage Is Associated With Increased Past-12-Month Quit Attempts and Successful Smoking Cessation in Two US Population–Based Surveys

INTRODUCTION We examined past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation from 2006 to 2016 while accounting for demographic shifts in the US population. In addition, we sought to understand whether the current use of electronic cigarettes was associated with a change in past-12-month quit attempts and successful smoking cessation at the population level. METHODS We analyzed data from 25- to 44-year-olds from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 2006 to 2016 (N = 26,354) and the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) in 2006-2007, 2010-2011, and 2014-2015 (N = 33,627). Data on e-cigarette use were available in the 2014-2016 NHIS and 2014-2015 TUS-CPS surveys. RESULTS Past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation increased in recent years compared with 2006. Current e-cigarette use was associated with higher quit attempts (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.87 to 2.81, p < .001) and greater smoking cessation (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.21 to 2.21, p = .001) in the NHIS. Multivariable logistic regression of the TUS-CPS data showed that current e-cigarette use was similarly significantly associated with increased past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation. Significant interactions were found for smoking frequency (everyday and some-day smoking) and current e-cigarette use for both outcomes (p < .0001) with the strongest positive effects seen in everyday smokers. CONCLUSIONS Compared with 2006, past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation increased among adults aged 25-44 in recent years. Current e-cigarette use was associated with increased past-12-month quit attempts and successful smoking cessation among established smokers. These findings are relevant to future tobacco policy decisions. IMPLICATIONS E-cigarettes were introduced into the US market over the past decade. During this period, past-12-month quit attempts and smoking cessation have increased among US adults aged 25-44. These trends are inconsistent with the hypothesis that e-cigarette use is delaying quit attempts and leading to decreased smoking cessation. In contrast, current e-cigarette use was associated with significantly higher past-12-month quit attempts and past-12-month cessation. These findings suggest that e-cigarette use contributes to a reduction in combustible cigarette use among established smokers.
Abstract WP292: Differential Ability of Prehospital Large Vessel of Occlusion Scales to Identify Intracranial Hemorrhage

Background: Prehospital scales have been developed to identify patients with acute cerebral ischemia large vessel occlusion (ACI LVO) for direct routing to endovascular procedures. However intracra...
Disparities in Access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Retailers Over Time and Space

The largest public assistance program in the United States, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), relies on private retailers for program access. We analyze geo-coded SNAP-authorized convenience and grocery stores in 2000 and 2010 to determine factors associated with their accessibility. Results demonstrate that accessibility was higher in areas with high rates of SNAP income-eligible individuals, but that some spatial disparity persists, particularly in areas with lower initial access and rural areas. Findings highlight the importance of SNAP-authorized convenience stores if markets continue to determine the location of SNAP access points.
Application of millisecond time-resolved solid state NMR to the kinetics and mechanism of melittin self-assembly

Common experimental approaches for characterizing structural conversion processes such as protein folding and self-assembly do not report on all aspects of the evolution from an initial state to the final state. Here, we demonstrate an approach that is based on rapid mixing, freeze-trapping, and low-temperature solid-state NMR (ssNMR) with signal enhancements from dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP). Experiments on the folding and tetramerization of the 26-residue peptide melittin following a rapid pH jump show that multiple aspects of molecular structure can be followed with millisecond time resolution, including secondary structure at specific isotopically labeled sites, intramolecular and intermolecular contacts between specific pairs of labeled residues, and overall structural order. DNP-enhanced ssNMR data reveal that conversion of conformationally disordered melittin monomers at low pH to α-helical conformations at neutral pH occurs on nearly the same timescale as formation of antiparallel melittin dimers, about 6 to 9 ms for 0.3 mM melittin at 24 °C in aqueous solution containing 20% (vol/vol) glycerol and 75 mM sodium phosphate. Although stopped-flow fluorescence data suggest that melittin tetramers form quickly after dimerization, ssNMR spectra show that full structural order within melittin tetramers develops more slowly, in ∼60 ms. Time-resolved ssNMR is likely to find many applications to biomolecular structural conversion processes, including early stages of amyloid formation, viral capsid formation, and protein-protein recognition.
Acid–Base Disorders in Kidney Disease

This chapter reviews acid–base disorders in acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and kidney transplantation. Most of these conditions are associated with high anion gap (AG) acidosis. Depending on the etiology of AKI, however, other acid–base disorders such as hyperchloremic (non-AG) acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory alkalosis, or respiratory acidosis may coexist with AG metabolic acidosis. The coexistence of lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis, and toxin ingestion in AKI patients may increase AG even further. Thus, mixed acid–base disorders are not uncommon in patients with kidney disease.
P679 Neisseria gonorrhoeae(GC) culture positivity by indication for culture and anatomic site, seattle, washington, 2017–2018

Background In order to increase the number of gonococcal isolates available for antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance, we expanded indications for GC culture in a municipal STD clinic in Seattle, Washington. We evaluated GC culture positivity by clinical criteria. Methods In 2017–2018, GC culture specimens were collected from STD clinic patients who met these criteria: (1) contact to GC, (2) GC NAAT+ not yet treated, or (3) symptomatic urethritis/cervicitis with intracellular diplococci on gram stain. Clinicians inoculated Modified Thayer-Martin agar plates at the bedside and incubated in a candle jar. Patient characteristics and indication for culture were abstracted from medical records; culture positivity was compared by indication, anatomic site, and patient group with Fisher’s exact test. Results Clinicians collected a total of 3,884 specimens, of which 1,107 (29%) were GC culture positive. Culture positivity among 74 endocervical, 1,611 pharyngeal, 1,154 rectal, and 1,045 urethral isolates was 30%, 17%, 29%, and 46%, respectively. Among contacts to GC, endocervical culture positivity was 6/26 (23%), pharyngeal 79/752 (11%), rectal 88/549 (16%), and urethral 71/445 (16%). Urethral culture positivity in male contacts without urethral discharge was low (6/221 [3%]). Pharyngeal culture positivity among GC contacts who were men who have sex with men was similar to heterosexual men (10% of 719 vs 12% of 17, p=0.68) but lower than pharyngeal positivity among women (43% of 14, p Conclusion Men with symptomatic urethritis had the highest GC culture yield (91%), followed by persons with recent GC NAAT+ (26–50%). Cultures in GC contacts had a modest yield (11%–23%). These criteria were appropriate for obtaining GC isolates for antimicrobial surveillance. Disclosure No significant relationships.
The mentoring FAN: a conceptual model of attunement for youth development settings

Although youth mentoring as a field has enjoyed significant growth over the last 20 years, a good percentage of mentor relationships end prematurely. Empirically informed models of training to supp...
Medication and substance use increases among people using cannabis medically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract Background The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic strains the medical system, limiting access to healthcare services. Many people use cannabis medically for chronic health conditions and as a substitute for other medications. As such, changes in cannabis access associated with COVID-19 may result in increased non-cannabis drug use. Methods We recruited N = 353 individuals through Amazon Mechanical Turk who reported current medical cannabis use in April and May of 2020. We assessed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patterns of medication and substance use, as well as on cannabis use patterns. Results Over half of participants either started using or increased use of medications or substances because of the COVID-19 pandemic, most commonly alcohol and sleep aids. Over a third of participants increased cannabis use while 25% decreased cannabis use. Approximately 40% of participants who increased or started use of medications/substances (other than cannabis) reported doing so because of changed access to medical cannabis. Conclusion The reported increase in drug use among people using medical cannabis is concerning. Because the pandemic will likely continue for months (or even years), having a better understanding of why this is occurring is critical for developing effective harm-reduction strategies in this population.
“Really Knowing” the Community: Citizen Science, VGI, and Community Housing Assessments:

This paper evaluates a citizen science initiative to assess housing conditions in multiple rural Georgia communities. Using technologies for digitized collection of volunteered geographic informati...
Patient and caregiver engagement in the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Health Care Horizon Scanning System (HCHSS) process.

Objective The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) horizon scanning system is an early warning system for healthcare interventions in development that could disrupt standard care. We report preliminary findings from the patient engagement process. Methods The system involves broadly scanning many resources to identify and monitor interventions up to 3 years before anticipated entry into U.S. health care. Topic profiles are written on included interventions with late-phase trial data and circulated with a structured review form for stakeholder comment to determine disruption potential. Stakeholders include patients and caregivers recruited from credible community sources. They view an orientation video, comment on topic profiles, and take a survey about their experience. Results As of March 2020, 312 monitored topics (some of which were archived) were derived from 3,500 information leads; 121 met the criteria for topic profile development and stakeholder comment. We invited fifty-four patients and caregivers to participate; thirty-nine reviewed at least one report. Their perspectives informed analyst nominations for fourteen topics in two 2019 High Potential Disruption Reports. Thirty-four patient stakeholders completed the user-experience survey. Most agreed (68 percent) or somewhat agreed (26 percent) that they were confident they could provide useful comments. Ninety-four percent would recommend others to participate. Conclusions The system has successfully engaged patients and caregivers, who contributed unique and important perspectives that informed the selection of topics deemed to have high potential to disrupt clinical care. Most participants would recommend others to participate in this process. More research is needed to inform optimal patient and caregiver stakeholder recruitment and engagement methods and reduce barriers to participation.
Molecular phylogeny and ancestral biogeographic reconstruction of Platanthera subgenus Limnorchis (Orchidaceae) using target capture methods.

Abstract Platanthera is one of the largest genera of temperate orchids in the Holarctic and exemplifies a lineage that has adaptively radiated into diverse habitats within North America, Asia, Europe, North Africa, Borneo, and Sarawak. Major centers of diversity in this genus are North America and eastern Asia. Despite its diversity, a thorough phylogenetic hypothesis for the genus is lacking because no studies have yet sampled taxa exhaustively or developed a robust molecular toolkit. While there is strong evidence that suggests monophyly of subgenus Limnorchis, most taxa in this group have not been included in a phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we developed a new toolkit for Platanthera consisting of genomic information from 617 low-copy nuclear loci. Using a targeted enrichment approach, we collected high-throughput sequence data in 23 accessions of nine of the 12 diploid species of subgenus Limnorchis and outgroup species across Platanthera. A maximum likelihood analysis resolved a strongly supported monophyletic clade for subgenus Limnorchis. Ancestral biogeographic reconstruction indicated that subgenus Limnorchis originated in western North America ca. 3–4.5 Mya from an ancestor that was widespread in western North America and eastern Asia and subsequently diversified in western North America, followed by dispersal of some species to eastern North America. Our results indicate complex biogeographic connections between Asia and North America, and therefore it suggests that Platanthera is a suitable system to test biogeographic hypotheses over time and space in the Holarctic. Our results are also expected to facilitate further study of diversification and biogeographic spread across Platanthera and lay the groundwork for understanding independent origins, biogeography, and morphological diversification of polyploid species within subgenus Limnorchis.
Long-standing Multifocal Motor Neuropathy Presenting With Delayed Clinical Features of Anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Neuropathy and Elevated Anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Antibody Titers.

ABSTRACT Multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block (MMN) and anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) neuropathy are rare chronic acquired demyelinating neuropathies with distinct clinical and electrophysiological characteristics. These neuropathies are generally not known to coexist. This report describes a patient with long-standing MMN who subsequently developed clinical features of anti-MAG neuropathy. This suggests that subtypes of chronic inflammatory neuropathies may not be sharply defined. In addition, a presentation of MMN with anti-MAG titers may be a prognostic indicator of poor response to standard MMN treatment.
Toward an evidence-based approach for cholangitis diagnosis.

Background and Aims Despite improvements in imaging and laboratory medicine, consensus criteria for the diagnosis of cholangitis are lacking. Although ERCP is an effective treatment for cholangitis, it should be reserved for those patients with a high probability of the diagnosis, given the morbidity associated with the procedure. Methods A comprehensive literature search of PubMed (from 1898 to present), Web of Science (1900 to July 15, 2019), Embase (1943 to July 15, 2019), and the Cochrane library (1898 to July 15, 2019) was performed to identify studies that reported on diagnostic paradigms and individual diagnostic parameters of cholangitis. This was used to identify domains associated with high probability of cholangitis. Results We identified 23 observational studies (10,252 patients) that evaluated the performance of individual and combined criteria for the diagnosis of cholangitis. Traditional paradigms including Charcot’s criteria and Ranson’s criteria have inadequate sensitivity, and complexity has limited the implementation of the contemporary Tokyo criteria. Furthermore, controlled studies to validate diagnostic criteria for cholangitis are lacking. Existing literature suggests that 4 criteria, summarized by the acronym BILE, identifies those at high risk of cholangitis: Biliary imaging abnormalities or recent intervention, Inflammatory test abnormalities, Liver test abnormalities, and Exclusion of cholecystitis and acute pancreatitis. Conclusions There is a need for cholangitis diagnostic criteria that are supported by controlled validation studies, consistent with contemporary clinical values, and amenable to implementation. The BILE criteria are straightforward but require prospective study of their diagnostic performance and ability to avert unnecessary ERCP.
Review of Nomad’s land: Pastoralism and French environmental policy in the nineteenth-century Mediterranean world by Andrea E. Duffy

Andrea E. Duffy, Nomad’s Land: Pastoralism and French Environmental Policy in the Nineteenth-Century Mediterranean World (Lincoln, NE: University of Nebraska Press, 2019). 191 pages + notes, index and bibliography ISBN: 9780803290976
Static Rainbow or Dynamic Garieb: Revisiting Neville Alexander's Thoughts on the Meaning of National Unity in a Post Marikana South Africa

The main argument of this essay is that current emancipatory struggles for non-racial, non-exploitative and democratic relations of citizenship in settler colonial social formations like Southern Africa will have to respond to two key problems posed by globalizing forms of neoliberal capitalism. Firstly, the dynamic and different sub-national identities and movements are not mutually intelligible and will require active projects of cross-cultural translations. Secondly, the effectiveness of local or sub-national militant movements will depend on their ability to forge trans-local alliances and solidarities. It seeks to build on the project of late revolutionary scholar Neville Alexander who, echoing Amilcar Cabral exhortation to return to the source, insightfully suggests that citizens seeking to transform South Africa's racialized economic order re-conceptualize their multicultural reality in dynamic and indigenous (territorial) terms such as a flowing and multi-tributary Garieb river in response to the deepening xenophobic violence eroding our iconic but static multi-color rainbow metaphor
Nursing Homes and COVID-19: One State’s Experience

Less than 0.5% of the US population reside in nursing homes but accounted for about 40% of COVID-19 deaths before vaccinations became available. Pennsylvania’s large elderly population and 700 nurs...
Optical and Other Properties Changes of M-50 Bearing Steel Surfaces for Different Lubricants and Additives Prior to Scuffing

An ester lubricant base oil containing one or more standard additives to protect against wear, corrosion, and oxidation was used in an experimental ball/plate elastohydrodynamic contact under load and speed conditions such as to induce scuffing failure in short times. Both the ball and the plate were of identically treated M-50 steel. After various periods of operating time, the wear track on the plate was examined (a) with an interference microscope of ± 30 A depth resolution and (b) sometimes also with a scanning ellipsometer, and (c) a scanning Auger spectrometer. The optically deduced surface profiles varied with wavelength, indicating the presence of surface coatings, which were confirmed by the other instrumentations. As scuffing was approached, a thin (∼40 A) oxide layer and a carbide layer formed in the wear track, in particular, when tricresylphosphate antiwear additive was present in the lubricant. The rates of the formation of these layers and their reactivity toward dilute alcoholic HCl depend...
Error-Prone Exception Handling in Large Ada Systems

An ongoing research project of the MITRE Corporation is investigating the use of exception handling in large-scale Ada applications. Through manual and static analysis of artifacts, we have identified patterns of use that can lead to defective behavior in the event of an exceptional condition. We classify these patterns as error-prone. As a guide for future developers of Ada applications we describe these error-prone patterns, how such usage can lead to defects, alternative implementation strategies where known, and how static analysis can be effectively used to identify these error-prone patterns.
Existence and Characterization of Optimal Locations

A general model for optimal location problems is given and the existence of solutions is proved under practical conditions. Conditions that all possible solutions must satisfy are given; these conditions form the basis of a method of finding solutions.
Price transmission throughout the U.S. food distribution system

Vertical markets for foods are linked through pricing systems with much of the performance seen through how well price information is reflected at points of exchange. Price linkage models are estimated using recursive asymmetric methods for measuring price linkages in the U.S. food distribution system for 100 food commodities from January 1995 to June 2009. Preliminary results show that price linkages to be strong but declining over time with evidence of asymmetric in the long run. Long run rising prices are pass through more than falling.
Electoral Rules, Political Systems, and Institutional Quality

This paper explores the links between political rules and institutional quality. The paper concentrates on two political measures: the presence of checks and balances in the political system and an index of political particularism that measures the incentives for politicians to build personal support bases. The paper finds a positive correlation between checks and balances and institutional quality. It also finds that intermediate levels of particularism are associated with higher institutional quality.
Making Meaning: Identity Development of Black Undergraduate Women

The purpose of this preliminary, phenomenological study was to identify factors that influence identity development and meaning-making of Black undergraduate women at a predominately White institution. The goal of this research was two-fold: to share diverse experiences of Black undergraduate women in order to understand the essence of their lived experience and to identify contemporary perspectives of the duality of being both Black and a woman at a predominately White institution. Findings were clustered into themes pertaining to support systems, maternal and familial influences, articulation of Black identity, and interactions with other Black undergraduate women.
An aggregate drought index: Assessing drought severity based on fluctuations in the hydrologic cycle and surface water storage

[1] An aggregate drought index (ADI) has been developed, and evaluated within three diverse climate divisions in California. The ADI comprehensively considers all physical forms of drought (meteorological, hydrological, and agricultural) through selection of variables that are related to each drought type. Water stored in large surface water reservoirs was also included. Hydroclimatic monthly data for each climate division underwent correlation-based principal component analysis (PCA), and the first principal component was deseasonalized to arrive at a single ADI value for each month. ADI time series were compared against the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) to describe two important droughts in California, the 1976–1977 and 1987–1992 events, from a hydroclimatological perspective. The ADI methodology provides a clear, objective approach for describing the intensity of drought and can be readily adapted to characterize drought on an operational basis.
A new explanation for long‐duration meteor radar echoes: Persistent charged dust trains

[1] Meteor radar echoes persist for timescales from 3 ms to several minutes. At the low end, head echoes provide the target while underdense, diffusing charged meteor trains are associated with timescales of several tenths of a second to several tens of seconds. Longer duration trains are less well understood, and a variety of explanations have been put forth. Indeed, a variety of mechanisms probably contribute. In this paper the author shows that a dust-filled, underdense turbulent meteor train yielded a VHF meteor which lasted over 10 min. Remarkably, the train was also penetrated by a sounding rocket, which verifies the high Schmidt-number nature of the train. Although the turbulence is not yet explained, it is possible that the gravitational sedimentation of the structure provided the free energy via a shear instability of the dusty plasma. These observations further support the notion that meteor trains are associated with dust production and that the double train phenomenon is related to sedimentation of a dusty train.
A Review of “Geospatial Analysis: A Comprehensive Guide to Principles, Techniques and Software Tools (2nd ed.)”

This book originated as a document to accompany the spatial analysis module of the postgraduate MS program in geographic information science at University College London in 2006. This much improved...
Neuromorphic engineering: overview and potential

Summary form only given. It is evident to even the most casual observer that the nervous systems of animals are able to accomplish feats that cannot be approached by our most powerful computing systems. Given the exponential increase in computing power over the last 45 years, our inability to rival the common housefly has become downright embarrassing. What is going on?.
Cost analysis and optimal kV level selection of alternate wind farms

With the emerging of various transmission technologies, alternate wind farm configurations have been proposed to integrate different combinations of AC, HVDC and Low-frequency AC for in-farm and out-of-farm transmission. The problems of cost evaluation and kV level selection are raised for the alternate wind farm configurations. This paper presents the cost analysis method and the optimal kV level selection approach for the alternate configurations discussed. The analyzed cost consists of operational cost, acquisition cost and maintenance cost. The optimal kV level is selected based on the minimization of the total annualized cost of the wind farm. One of the proposed alternate configurations is used as a case study to demonstrate the cost analysis and optimal kV level selection methods. The kV level selection results and the minimum cost of all the eight alternate configurations proposed are also provided.
The role of changes in cell contact behavior in amphibian gastrulation.

Five different methods were used to examine cell contact behavior in normal and interspecific hybrid embryos in an attempt to elucidate the role of cell surface adhesiveness in gastrulation. In normal embryos and viable hybrid embryos, all cells show an increasing tendency to attach to glass in vitro with advancing developmental age. Presumptive mesodermal cells from early gastrulae show a high ability to attach to glass and to reaggregate. The rate of disaggregation of whole embryos shows marked decreases with advancing age from the blastula to late gastrula period. Binary combinations of explanted embryonic germ layer fragments from early gastrulae undergo movements that are reminiscent of portions of gastrulation. At the level of fine structure, cell contacts become increasingly intimate from the blastula to late gastrula period. In hybrid embryos which undergo developmental arrest at the onset of gastrulation, there is a lack of gastrular morphogenetic behavior in some or all portions of the embryo. In those portions of arrested hybrids where some morphogenesis is evident, there is “quasi-normal” cell contact behavior. Most often, however, there is no recognizable gastrulation and a striking departure from the normal pattern of cell contact behavior. These results show that extent of changes in cell contact behavior and extent of normal gastrulation correlate positively. This suggests that changes in cell surface properties, resulting in the formation of stronger intercellular adhesions, are necessary for the morphogenetic movements of gastrulation.
Near equality of ion phase space densities at Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn

Energetic-ion phase-space density profiles are strikingly similar in the inner magnetospheres of earth, Jupiter, and Saturn for ions of first adiabatic invariant near 100 MeV/G and small mirror latitudes. Losses occur inside L approximately equal to 7 for Jupiter and Saturn and inside L approximately equal to 5 at earth. At these L values there exist steep plasma-density gradients at all three planets, associated with the Io plasma torus at Jupiter, the Rhea-Dione-Tethys torus at Saturn, and the plasmasphere at earth. Measurements of ion flux-tube contents at Jupiter and Saturn by the low-energy charged-particle experiment show that these are similar (for O ions at L = 5-9) to those at earth (for protons at L = 2-6). Furthermore, the thermal-ion flux-tube contents from Voyager plasma-science data at Jupiter and Saturn are also very nearly equal, and again similar to those at earth, differing by less than a factor of 3 at the respective L values. The near equality of energetic and thermal ion flux-tube contents at earth, Jupiter, and Saturn suggests the possibility of strong physical analogies in the interaction between plasma and energetic particles at the plasma tori/plasma sheets of Jupiter and Saturn and the plasmasphere of earth.
Asymmetric effects of U.S. stock returns on European equities

Abstract An asymmetric conditional mean returns model describing co-movements of three major European stock markets with the U.S. stock market is estimated. Multivariate conditional heteroskedasticity is captured by a VAR(p)-MGARCH(p,q)-BEKK parameterization. Conditional Sharpe ratios from alternative mean-volatility specifications are compared with multivariate t-tests. Results consistently indicate that France has offered the best risk-adjusted returns compared to the U.K. or Germany taken from a U.S. investor's viewpoint. All three European markets show a tendency to move counter-cyclically with the U.S. market, on average, suggesting ongoing substitution by global investors between U.S. and major European equities. Unconditional Sharpe ratios understate conditional Sharpe ratios for each market.
Weight loss and incidence of diabetes with the Veterans Health Administration MOVE! lifestyle change programme: an observational study

Summary Background Programmes for lifestyle change are aimed at improving health but little is known about their effectiveness in clinical settings. The Veterans Health Administration (VA) MOVE! lifestyle change programme is the largest in the USA. We investigated whether participation in MOVE! is associated with reduced incidence of diabetes. Methods We did a retrospective observational analysis of data from VA databases in overweight patients and obese patients with a weight-related disorder who had undergone at least 3 years of continuous outpatient care in 2005–12. We used generalised estimating equations to assess characteristics associated with MOVE! participation, and Cox's proportional hazards regression to analyse the association between participation and diabetes incidence. Findings Of 1·8 million eligible individuals, 238 540 (13%) participated in the MOVE! programme. 19 367 (1% overall, 8% of participants) met criteria for intense and sustained participation (at least eight sessions within 6 months over at least a 4-month span), which was associated with greater weight loss at 3 years than low-intensity or no participation (−2·2% vs −0·64% or 0·46%). Compared with non-participation, incidence of diabetes was reduced by intense and sustained participation (hazard ratio 0·67, 95% CI 0·61–0·74) and low-intensity participation (0·80, 0·77–0·83) in MOVE!. These patterns were consistent across sex, ethnic origin, and age. Participation was most beneficial in patients with high BMI or high random glucose concentrations at baseline (both p interaction Interpretation Participation in the MOVE! programme was associated with weight loss and reduced incidence of diabetes, but the rate of participation was low and, therefore, selection bias could have exaggerated these effects. Funding US Department of Veterans Affairs, National Institutes of Health.
Shared genetic relationships underlying generalized vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disease.

Background: Generalized vitiligo is an autoimmune disease of skin pigmentation that is associated with increased prevalence of other autoimmune diseases, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD; principally Hashimoto's disease and Graves' disease), both in vitiligo patients and their close relatives, suggesting a heritable predisposition involving, in part, shared susceptibility genes. Summary: This review summarizes current knowledge of vitiligo epidemiology and genetics, highlighting recent findings from genome-wide approaches to disease gene identification, emphasizing susceptibility loci shared with other autoimmune diseases, particularly AITD, as well as some important differences. Conclusions: Inherited susceptibility to generalized vitiligo involves a number of specific genes, many of which are shared with other autoimmune diseases that are epidemiologically associated with vitiligo, including AITD, confirming a longstanding hypothesis about the genetic basis of these disorders. These genes p...