cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Research for a Uniform Quality Grading System for Tires V. Effect of Environment on Tread Wear Rate

Abstract In tests with bias ply, belted bias, and radial commercial passenger car tires it was found that the rate of wear does not change as the tires are worn. It was also shown in a test which there were dry and wet periods that the same tires wore at a faster rate in the wet than in the dry. This observation was reinforced when a comparison of two tests run with duplicate sets of tires in January and June on the same course gave greatly different results; the greater rate of wear occurring in January when the course was continuously wet. Finally an explanation for the observation that tires wear faster on wet pavements has been proposed. The tire is more deformed passing through the contact patch on a wet surface than on a dry. In addition, the water, acting as a lubricant, reduces resistance to motion between surfaces of the cut rubber or the surface of the cutting asperity and the rubber.
Ideology and Political Economy: The Research Publication Criterion of Academic Merit

Abstract This is the third in a series of three papers exploring undergraduate teaching in American institutions of higher education, and the norms that surround or confine it. The central problem addressed is why, despite the obvious functional significance of teaching for all institutions, and the well-documented opinions of American faculty members that it is more important than research, the same faculty members also support the fully-institutionalized norm that research publication is the most important criterion of academic merit. The paper discusses institutional and personal motives for a “research ethic” and concludes that the answer to the paradox is “resource accumulation” for both persons and departments, and then outlines the educational costs entailed: devaluation of undergraduate instruction and those who perform it, and massive transfer of funds from undergraduate fees to support graduate education, resulting in the proliferation of less-than-robust graduate programs and trivial research. ...
Resolution Considerations in Using CCD Imagers in Broadcast-Quality Cameras

Analyse des avantages des dispositifs a couplage de charges sur les tubes dans les cameras de television en ce qui concerne la sensibilite, le retard de reponse a un changement d'illumination, la resolution statique et la resolution dynamique
Physiologic Fitness of Enterokinase

SummaryFor the activation of trypsinogen by enterokinase the optimal concentration of calcium chloride was near 0.0002 M, which is at the lower end of the range of calcium concentrations prevailing in the upper small intestine. Magnesium chloride was not so effective. For an hour's activation at pH 7.7 and 23°, in the presence of 0.0002 M calcium chloride, the rate of trypsin production was directly proportional to the concentration of enterokinase. This system was used for a simplified assay of trypsinogen-activator; and calcium was varied according to whether the activator was enterokinase or trypsin. Although partially purified enterokinase had much more trypsinogen-activating effect than an equal weight of crystallized trypsin, it had much less hydrolytic effect on lysine methylester and tosylarginine methylester. In comparison with trypsin, enterokinase is more precisely adapted to the activation of trypsinogen.
Exact relativistic expressions for polarization of incoherent Thomson scattering

We present a derivation of the degree of polarization for incoherent Thomson scattering (TS) using Mueller matrix formalism. An exact analytic solution is obtained for spectrum-integrated matrix elements. The solution is valid for the full range of incident polarizations, scattering angles, and electron thermal motion from non-relativistic to ultra-relativistic. It is based on a newly developed theoretical model, a finite transit time (FTT) correction to previous theoretical work on TS polarization. The Mueller matrix elements are substantially different from previous calculations without the FTT correction, even to the lowest linear order in Te/mec2≪1. Mathematically, the derivation is a unique example of fully analytical integration of the 3D scattering operator over a relativistic Maxwellian distribution function; experimentally, the results have application to the use of the polarization properties of Thomson scattered light as a method of electron temperature measurement. The results can also be used...
Evaluation and Analysis on Effectiveness of TB Control Project in Zhuzhou County,Hunan Province from 1994 to 2009

Objective To analyze and assess the effectiveness of TB control project in Zhuzhou County during the period of 1994-2009,and to provide a scientific basis for sustainable development of TB control work in Zhuzhou County.Methods We conducted an analysis on TB incidence from 1994 to 2009,registering rate,prevalence status and DOTs,social and cost effect through document reviews,such as from register book,monthly,quarterly and yearly reports,etc.Results The registration rate of TB prevalence was 72.69/100,000 in Zhuzhou County during the period of 1994~2009.The smear-positive registration rate was 45.09/100,000,of which new smear-positive prevalence rate was 36.23/100,000,the curative rate was 93.51%,and the curative rate of retreatment cases was 88.55%.60,000 persons avoided being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and 3,000 persons avoided becoming TB patients.The direct economic benefit of the project was 15 times of the cost in patients,detection and treatment.Conclusions The implementation of the TB control project in Zhuzhou County promoted the achievement of NTP goals,attained the expected purposes of high case detection and high curative rate,obtained remarkable social and economic benefits,and provided a scientific basis for sustainable development of TB control work.
The life histories of Meridialaris chiloeensis (Demoulin, 1955) (Ephemeroptera: Leptophlebiidae) and Gigantodax rufescens (Edwards, 1931) (Diptera: Simuliidae) on a Magellanic sub-Antarctic island (55°S)

ABSTRACTThe life histories of Meridialaris chiloeensis (Demoulin, 1955) (Leptophlebiidae: Ephemeroptera) and Gigantodax rufescens (Edwards, 1931) (Simuliidae: Diptera) were studied in a Magellanic sub-Antarctic river in Navarino Island (55°S). Both species are distributed along the whole length of the watershed. Phenology was studied in the field for a period of 12 months between August 2009 and September 2010, at a site near the river's mouth (sea level). Cumulative degree-days were calculated along the gradient at five representative altitudinal locations, starting at the river's headwaters. Samples were obtained during January of 2010 at all the remaining altitudinal locations to assess possible changes in voltinism during the austral summer season through the watershed. Results show that M. chiloeensis and G. rufescens have a bivoltine and multivoltine life cycle, respectively, at sea level. Based on degree-days obtained and field observations at the remaining stations, possible voltinism patterns are...
Detecting ultralight bosonic dark matter via absorption in superconductors

Superconducting targets have recently been proposed for the direct detection of dark matter as light as a keV, via elastic scattering off conduction electrons in Cooper pairs. Detecting such light dark matter requires sensitivity to energies as small as the superconducting gap of O(meV). Here we show that these same superconducting devices can detect much lighter DM, of meV to eV mass, via dark matter absorption on a conduction electron, followed by emission of an athermal phonon. We demonstrate the power of this setup for relic kinetically mixed hidden photons, pseudoscalars, and scalars, showing that the reach can exceed current astrophysical and terrestrial constraints with only a moderate exposure.
Outcomes of Immediate Allograft Reconstruction of Long-Span Defects of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve

Purpose Contemporary management of ablative jaw defects includes not only hard and soft tissue reconstruction, but also restoration of neurosensory function. The goal of this study was to determine the outcomes of immediate reconstruction of long-span defects (≥50 mm) of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) after ablative mandibular resection using allogeneic nerve grafts. Materials and Methods A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent immediate reconstruction of IAN gaps of at least 50 mm with allogeneic nerve graft (AxoGen Avance, Alachua, FL) at a single academic medical center by a single surgeon (M.M.) from September 2013 to March 2015 was completed. Demographic and clinical data were collected for each patient and analyzed using clinical neurosensory testing and were reported using the Medical Research Council Scale (MRCS) for functional sensory recovery. In addition, patient subjective perception of neurosensory recovery was recorded using a visual analog scale (VAS). Subjective (VAS) and objective (MRCS) measurements of functional sensory recovery were recorded and compared across the study population. In addition, examined demographic and clinical data included patient age, gender, pathology, length of nerve allograft, and follow-up period. Results Of 12 with nerve repairs, 7 patients met the inclusion criteria. The average age was 34.7 years (range, 18 to 61 yr) and 71.4% were men. All IAN defects resulted from resection of mandibular pathology (6 benign lesions, 1 malignant lesion). Six of the 7 IAN defects were reconstructed with a 70-mm nerve allograft, and 1 nerve defect was reconstructed with a 50-mm graft. Mean follow-up time was 17.7 months (range, 10 to 27.5 months). Mean VAS score reported was 3.7 (range, 0 to 7). In addition, 85.7% of patients displayed return of some superficial pain and tactile sensation without over-response (S3), with 14.3% displaying good stimulation localization (S3+). The patient who displayed S3+ recovery underwent reconstruction with the 50-mm graft. Only 1 of the 7 patients had no neurosensory recovery (S0). Conclusions Immediate reconstruction of the IAN with allogeneic nerve grafting of long-span defects (≥5 cm) is a viable and predictable option to achieve useful functional sensory recovery.
Abstract 2567: Characterizing histologic subtypes in lung cancer using principal component analysis

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and worldwide. The two major forms of lung cancer are small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and non-SCLC (NSCLC). NSCLC is divided into three major histologic subtypes: Squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large-cell. Histological subtypes of cancers vary with respect to the genes that shows altered regulation, compared to normal bronchioepithelial cells. Lung cancer histologic diagnosis is clinically relevant because there are histology-specific treatment indications and contradictions. Principal component analysis (PCA) is one of the useful statistical tools for analyzing multivariate data and recently high-dimensional data in genetics and genomics. We demonstrated the classification between two major subtypes of lung cancer: 488 squamous cell carcinoma and 788 adenocarcinoma cases. We selected the top 20k significant SNPs using logistic regression and then conducted PCA as the unsupervised approach. We observed a distinct pattern between two major subtypes of NSCLC in genome-wide association study (GWAS). There were several publications to classify the subtypes of histology in lung cancer using gene expression data. This enables to understand the patterns for other subtypes of lung cancer in GWAS. Citation Format: Jinyoung Byun, Younghun Han, Christopher I. Amos. Characterizing histologic subtypes in lung cancer using principal component analysis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2567.
Positional Cloning: Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Mobilization through EGF Receptor Signaling.

There is significant individual variation in humans in their ability to mobilize hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) from bone marrow (BM) to peripheral blood upon G-CSF stimulation. Understanding the molecular mechanism underlying this variation may provide clinically significant targets to improve HSPC mobilization. Using forward genetics, we have previously demonstrated that a locus on chromosome 11 is responsible for murine inter-strain variation in G-CSF mediated HSPC mobilization (Geiger et. al., Exp. Hematol., 2004). Novel subcongenic animals were generated that further confined the locus to a 5 Mbp interval. Of the 12 genes in this interval, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was identified as a candidate gene for regulating inter-strain differences in mobilization. Using real-time PCR, we demonstrated that EGFR is expressed in both murine and human HSPC and that the level of EGFR expression is inversely correlated with GCSF-induced mobilization proficiency of murine HSPC. To further demonstrate a role of EGFR signaling in mobilization, C57BL/6 mice were treated with G-CSF and increasing concentrations of murine recombinant epidermal growth factor (EGF). Our results demonstrated that a single dose of EGF (0.8 ug/g) significantly inhibited mobilization efficiency (approx. 4-fold) (46.7±13 CFC/37.5ul PB with G-CSF treated mice vs. 12.67±1.5 CFC/37.5ul PB with G-CSF + EGF treated mice). To determine whether the reduction in mobilization efficiency is dependent upon EGFR activity, EGFR mutant mice (waved-2+/−) were treated with G-CSF and EGF. In contrast to control mice, EGF had no significant inhibitory effect on G-CSF-mediated mobilization in waved-2+/− mice indicating that EGFR signaling is necessary for inhibition of mobilization by EGF (46.7±13.0 vs. 12.67±1.5 CFC/37.5ul PB, G-CSF vs G-CSF+EGF treated control mice compared to 14.2±3.7 vs. 12.1±3.6 CFC/37.5ul PB with waved-2+/− mice). To determine if EGFR-signaling regulated mobilization is HSC intrinsic, we performed “competitive mobilization experiments” in which equal numbers of BM cells (4x106) from either control or waved-2−/− mice and competitor Ly5.1 cells were transplanted into lethally irradiated BoyJ mice and subsequently treated with G-CSF and EGF. Animals transplanted with control cells demonstrated a significant reduction in mobilization efficiency in response to EGF compared to animals transplanted with waved-2−/− cells (20.2±7.2 vs. 7.89±1.2 CFC/37.5ul PB, G-CSF vs G-CSF+EGF treated control transplanted mice compared to 20.3±4.5 vs. 18.67±1.2 CFC/37.5ul PB with waved-2−/− transplanted mice) indicating that EGFR activity in hematopoietic cells is necessary to confer inhibition of mobilization efficiency by EGF. Taken together, these findings identify EGFR signaling as a negative regulator and a genetic modifier of G-CSF induced mobilization proficiency and a potential novel target to enhance HSPC mobilization efficiency.
Water Chemistry Changes Over Time and Space in Lake Bonneville During the Post-Stansbury Transgression

Abstract Carbonate abundance, mineralogy, and carbon-, oxygen-, and strontium-isotope compositions of marl deposited between ~ 24 and 18 cal ka differ significantly between locations in the Bonneville basin and over time at the same locations. The geochemistry of the lake in the Sevier subbasin evolved along a different pathway than the lake in the main body. Furthermore, variations in geochemistry within the main body show that shallow and deep-water masses developed and were not well mixed throughout the large basin. Advances in the understanding of the geochemistry of Lake Bonneville since the days of Gilbert have greatly increased our awareness of the hydrological complexity of this huge lake system.
Medical Device Security

Medical device security represents a growing problem within the healthcare industry. An increasing number of medical devices and systems contain critical health related information for which integrity, availability, and confidentiality must be maintained. HIPAA's Security Rule requires that US healthcare providers have a security program addressing this problem in place by April 21, 2005. Through a collaborative effort, ACCE and ECRI have developed the first comprehensive guideline for implementing the security management and risk analysis process for medical technology.
Routine PET/CT Workflow Efficiency and Scan Time Improvements Using Continuous Bed Motion (CBM) Techniques

2629 Objectives CBM technology enables a new way of running PET/CT scans. Our previous work has shown some benefits of CBM in clinical imaging. There are workflow improvements when using CBM, including faster protocol setup and decreased scan length. This study compares whole-body PET/CT workflows for CBM vs step and shoot (SS) imaging. Methods Protocols were setup and patients imaged using a Siemens Biograph mCT Flow. To evaluate protocol set up time, technologists set up Melanoma SS Melanoma CBM protocols. Each protocol was timed and the number of mouse clicks counted for setup. To evaluate SS vs CBM scan length, 35 whole-body PET/CT ranges were selected using standard SS setup procedures that require integer multiples of beds for range selection and then altered using CBM setup procedures that enable exact selection of axial range. Scan times between SS and CBM axial ranges were calculated using matched scan time parameters. Results Differences in protocol setup times and number of clicks were found to be significant (p Conclusions Patient protocol and scan times can be decreased by using CBM vs. SS. When using SS, the technologist would have to click on each individual bed to set up the time for that specific bed. With CBM, you have up to 4 ranges that can be selected compared to 6-10 beds for SS imaging. Depending on the clinical indication, you can use 1 to 4 ranges, which decrease the time of the initial protocol set up.
Assessment of the excitation temperatures and Mg II:I line ratios of the direct current (DC) arc source for the analysis of radioactive materials

The direct current (DC) arc plasma has been assessed with an emphasis on excitation temperature (T exe) and ionization/excitation efficiency by monitoring magnesium ionic:atomic ratios (Mg II:I). The primary goal is to improve the analytical performance of the DC arc instrumentation such that more sensitive and reproducible measurements can be achieved when analyzing trace impurities in nuclear materials. Due to the variety of sample types requiring DC arc analysis, an understanding of the plasma’s characteristics will significantly benefit the experimental design when moving forward with LANL’s capabilities for trace metal analysis of plutonium metals.
Notes: Evaluation of Physical Education in North Carolina High Schools

(1956). Notes: Evaluation of Physical Education in North Carolina High Schools. Research Quarterly. American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 27, No. 2, pp. 243-244.
Topical Fluorescein Application Can Induce Iritis and Glaucoma

Various side effects have been reported after intravenous use of fluorescein. However, the adverse reactions to topical administration of this chemical have not been well documented. We report a case of unusual reaction to fluorescein when used topically on an intact cornea for the measurement of intraocular pressure. The patient manifested photophobia, conjunctival injection, iritis and elevated intraocular pressure, which necessitated medical management. These symptoms and signs occurred on each of four separate occasions when fluorescein was used topically, but disappeared upon discontinuing the use of this chemical agent. We believe that our patient exhibited an unusual hypersensitivity response to topical application of fluorescein akin to Posner-Schlossman syndrome.
Asymmetric development of the nervous system

The human nervous system consists of seemingly symmetric left and right halves. However, closer observation of the brain reveals anatomical and functional lateralization. Defects in brain asymmetry correlate with several neurological disorders, yet our understanding of the mechanisms used to establish lateralization in the human central nervous system is extremely limited. Here, we review left-right asymmetries within the nervous system of humans and several model organisms, including rodents, Zebrafish, chickens, Xenopus, Drosophila, and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Comparing and contrasting mechanisms used to develop left-right asymmetry in the nervous system can provide insight into how the human brain is lateralized. Developmental Dynamics 247:124–137, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The impact of early thromboelastography directed therapy in trauma resuscitation

Conventional coagulation tests do not provide an accurate representation of the complex nature of trauma induced coagulopathy. Thrombelastography provides a prompt global overview of all dynamic sequential aspects of trauma induced coagulopathy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of using thrombelastography on blood products utilization, crystalloids utilization, hospital, and intensive care using length of stay, and cost savings. We retrospectively reviewed 134 patients (May of 2012 to February of 2015) meeting Class I trauma activation. Outcome data was compared between two groups: patients prior to thrombelastography implementation (n = 87) and patients with thrombelastography guided trauma resuscitation (n = 47). Blood product usage was compared for three time periods: first 4 h, the next 20 h, and first 24 h. For the first 24 h of treatment, patients with thrombelastography guided trauma resuscitation had lower packed red blood cells (p = 0.0022) and fresh frozen plasma (p = 0.0474), but higher jumbo pack platelets (p = 0.0476) utilization when compared to the patients prior to thrombelastography implementation. There was no statistical significant difference in the utilization of crystalloids for any of the three time intervals. Patients with thrombelastography guided trauma resuscitation had a shorter hospital length of stay (p = 0.0011) and intensive care unit length of stay (p = 0.0059) than the patients prior to thrombelastography implementation. Cost savings in blood products transfusion were most pronounced in patients with penetrating injuries. Using visco-elastic tests to guide blood transfusion was first used for liver transplant patients and then applied to cardiovascular surgery and trauma. Similar to other studies, this study showed using visco-elastic tests for trauma patietns corresponded to an overall reduction in the use of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma during the first 24 hours of resuscitation. In addition, this study showed using visco-elastic tests corresponded to a significant reduction in both hospital and intensive care unit length of stay. This study demonstrates that Thrombelastography guided trauma resuscitation decreases the overall transfusion requirements of packed red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma. However, given the nature of under-recognized jumbo pack platelets dysfunction in the conventional laboratory parameters, jumbo pack platelets utilization is higher when following Thrombelastography directed resuscitation. The utilization of Thrombelastography corresponded to a reduction in hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay and cost of transfused blood products.
Responses to "art, Society/Text: A Few Remarks on the Current Relations of the Class Struggle in the Fields of Literary Production and Literary Ideologies"

The present dossier compiles brief responses to the anonymously published “Art, Society/ Text: A Few remarks on the Current Relations of the Class Struggle in the Fields of Literary Production and Literary Ideologies” (1975), from five scholars working in the fields of philosophy, literary theory and Marxism, as well as Latin American and Asian studies. First published in the Slovenian journal Problemi-Razprave (Problems-Debates) and first translated in an excerpted form in ARTMargins (October 2016), the text and its responses raise a series of questions about the specificity of art and literature as signifying practices in the wake of modernist autonomy; the form assumed by class struggle within the authors' structuralist framework; and the possible consequences of such theoretical issues for the critique and historiography of art since the 1960s.
Testosterone replacement therapy for physician assistants and nurse practitioners

Physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners have been moving toward specialty practices, like urology. With increased training and education, they manage more complex conditions independently. Whether they are the primary provider or the follow up to a specialist, physician extenders can play a vital role in managing patients undergoing testosterone therapy. Physician extenders should be able to understand the indications, risks and associated adverse effects of administering testosterone in order to proficiently take care of patients with low testosterone. The goal of this review is to recognize the role and the limits to which physician extenders should manage hypogonadism, and when physician collaboration or referral is necessary.
Endogenous volatile organic compounds in acute myeloid leukemia: origins and potential clinical applications

Not unlike many cancer types, acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibits many metabolic changes and reprogramming, causing changes in lipid metabolism. Some of the distinct molecular abnormalities associated with AML also modify the metabolic changes. Both processes result in changes in the production of endogenous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The increasing availability of highly sensitive methods for detecting trace chemicals provides the opportunity to investigate the role of patient-specific VOC finger-prints as biomarkers for detecting early relapse or minimal residual disease in AML. Since VOC production is reliant on metabolic activities, when combined with currently available methods, VOC analysis may identify within a group of patients with flow cytometric or molecular evidence of residual disease those most at risk for disease relapse.
The diagnostic utility of Gallium-68 DOTATOC PET-CT in patients with suspected neuroendocrine tumors (NET)

1892 Objectives To evaluate the utility of PET-CT with Gallium-68 DOTA-D-Phe1-Try3-Octreotide (Ga-68 DOTATOC) in diagnosis of NET in patients with suspicious symptoms and/or elevated neuroendocrine markers. Methods Patients with known or suspected NET underwent whole-body Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT in a prospective study. Ga-68 DOTATOC was produced at the University of Iowa under a physician-sponsored IND using an automated 68Ge/68Ga generator coupled with a ModularLab PharmTracer fluid handling system (Eckert-Ziegler). PET-CT scans were obtained 60 min after the IV administration of 148 MBq of Ga-68 DOTATOC with a low-dose non-contrast CT. Images were interpreted qualitatively with focal uptake above normal background considered positive for neuroendocrine tumor. Results 65 patients underwent Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT between February 2012 and December 2012. 18 patients in this group, without a prior diagnosis of NET, underwent Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT to evaluate clinical symptoms and/or elevated neuroendocrine markers suggestive of NET. 17/18 patients had clinical symptoms; the most common symptoms were loose stools/diarrhea (n=14) and flushing (n=13). 11/18 patients showed elevated neuroendocrine markers, most commonly serotonin (n=9). Ga-68 DOTATOC PET was negative in 17/18 patients. Ga-68 DOTATOC PET was positive in the pancreas in one patient with elevated ACTH and an enhancing pancreatic lesion on CT. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that Ga-68 DOTATOC PET-CT has a low yield in evaluation of patients with suspicious symptoms for neuroendocrine tumors and/or elevated neuroendocrine markers.
Cyclic Deformation and Fatigue Life Prediction of Anisotropic A1-6061-T6 Rods Under Biaxial Loadings

Cyclic stress-strain curves and fatigue lives were obtained from fully reversed fatigue tests in strain control on two anisotropic A1-6061-T6 rods. The experiments were conducted at room temperature under three loading conditions: tension/compression; torsion; and combined tension/torsion in-phase. Based on the CSSCs data, the anisotropic constitutive relations of the rods were obtained by using Hill’s anisotropic plasticity theory. Yield loci and flow behavior were determined and compared to theoretical predictions. Two anisotropic effective stress-effective strain criteria were evaluated. During the fatigue tests, the fatigue cracking behavior of the rods was observed and found to be shear dominated. Four multiaxial fatigue life prediction models representing three different concepts were used to correlate the fatigue test data. A shear cracking model incorporated with a material anisotropy constant correlated with the test data very well. The other models, however, gave poor correlations.
Sleeping Position, Orientation, and Proximity in Bedsharing Infants and Mothers

The impact of mother-infant bedsharing on infant sleeping position, orientation, and proximity to the mother was assessed in 12 breast-feeding Latino mother-infant pairs. Six routinely bedsharing and six routinely solitary-sleeping pairs slept 3 nights in the sleep laboratory. The first night matched the routine home condition, followed by 1 bedsharing night and 1 solitary-sleeping night in random order. During bedsharing infants were never placed prone, regardless of their routine sleeping condition. On the bedsharing night, mothers and infants spent most of the night oriented toward each other; seven of 12 infants remained oriented toward their mothers the entire night. While sleeping in a face-to-face orientation, most pairs slept most of the time less than 30 cm apart with appreciable amounts of time at less than 20 cm. This orientation and proximity should facilitate sensory exchanges between mother and infant which, we hypothesize, influence the infant's sleep physiology and nocturnal behavior. We conclude that bedsharing minimizes the use of the prone infant sleeping position, probably in part to facilitate breast feeding. By promoting nonprone positions, bedsharing may protect some infants from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), since prone sleeping is a known risk factor for SIDS. The large percentage of the night that mothers spent oriented toward their infants suggests that a higher degree of maternal vigilance may also result from bedsharing.
Inactivation of prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS) by N-(substituted)maleimides.

Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase (PGHS, EC 1.14.99.1) catalyzes the first two steps of prostaglandin biosynthesis.1 Its cyclooxygenase activity oxygenates arachidonic acid to form PGG2; the peroxidase activity of the enzyme then reduces PGG2 in the presence of a reducing substrate to the corresponding alcohol PGH2.2,3 The cyclooxygenase activity is inhibited by a structurally diverse class of compounds known as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID’s).4 Inhibition of PGHS by NSAID’s is believed to be the biochemical basis for their antiinflammatory properties.5 Covalent modification of PGHS is responsible for enzyme inactivation by aspirin4, acylimidazoles6, acyl-N-hydroxysuccinimides6,7, and N-alkylmaleimides.8 However, a large excess of inhibitor (~300 fold) and prolonged incubation times (~120 min) are required to achieve significant inhibition in all of these cases. In the present study, we have tethered to the maleimido moiety, a series of substrate and inhibitor mimics that are capable of binding at the fatty acid substrate site. Maleimide derivatives linked to a series of medium length fatty acids were found to exhibit much more potent cyclooxygenase inactivation. The most potent of these inhibitors, N-(carboxyheptyl)maleimide, inhibits enyzme activity within seconds after mixing with a stoichiometric amount of PGHS protein. Varying the length of the alkyl chain in N-(carboxyalkyl)maleimides or removal of the carboxylate dramatically reduces their potency as rapid PGHS inhibitors. In addition to the structure-activity relationships, the mechanism of inhibition of PGHS by N-(carboxyheptyl)maleimide was explored by subsequent inhibition studies with radiolabeled N-(carboxyheptyl)maleimide. Although incubation of apoPGHS with radiolabeled inhibitor led to the incorporation of radioactivity in the protein, subsequent attempts to identify the amino acid residue(s) by peptide mapping were unsuccessful, presumably due to the instability of the enzyme/inhibitor adduct.
Outcomes When Using Adjunct Dexmedetomidine with Propofol Sedation in Mechanically Ventilated Surgical Intensive Care Patients

Objective: Compare the duration of mechanical ventilation between patients receiving sedation with continuous infusions of propofol alone or combination with the use of dexmedetomidine and propofol. Design: Retrospective, propensity matched (1:1) cohort study, employing eight variables chosen a priori for matching. Timing of exposure to dexmedetomidine initiation was incorporated into a matching algorithm. Setting: Level 1, university-based, 32-bed, adult, mixed trauma and surgical intensive care unit (SICU). Continuous sedation was delivered according to a protocol methodology with daily sedation vacation and spontaneous breathing trials. Choice of sedation agent was physician directed. Patients: Between 2010 and 2014, 149 SICU patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >24 h received dexmedetomidine with propofol. Propensity matching resulted in 143 pair cohorts. Interventions: Dexmedetomidine with propofol or propofol alone. Measurements and Main Results: There was no statistical difference in SICU length of stay (LOS), with a median absolute difference of 5.3 h for propofol alone group (p = 0.43). The SICU mortality was not statistically different (RR = 1.002, p = 0.88). Examining a 14-day period post-treatment with dexmedetomidine, on any given day (excluding days 1 and 14), dexmedetomidine with propofol-treated patients had a 0.5% to 22.5% greater likelihood of being delirious (CAM-ICU positive). In addition, dexmedetomidine with propofol-treated patients had a 4.5% to 18.8% higher likelihood of being above the target sedation score (more agitated) compared to propofol-alone patients. Conclusions: In this propensity matched cohort study, adjunct use of dexmedetomidine to propofol did not show a statistically significant reduction with respect to mechanical ventilation (MV) duration, SICU LOS, or SICU mortality, despite a trend toward receiving fewer hours of propofol. There was no evidence that dexmedetomidine with propofol improved sedation scores or reduced delirium.
Insects locomotion, piercing, sucking and stinging mechanisms

Some 10 million different species of animals and plants are known to exist on earth. Of which, arthropods make up the largest category with roughly 5 million species. The word, arthropods, is derived from two Greek words: arthron (joint) + podos (foot), meaning jointed-feet. These are spineless animals with segmented bodies, paired and jointed legs, exoskeletons, and bilateral symmetry. Arthropods, being one of the major class of animals, create medical problems. They attack other organisms, cause allergic reactions, release toxins and venoms, and may even cause death.
Experiences of Families With Young Power Wheelchair Users

Independent mobility in typically developing infants and young children has been linked to growth in many areas of child development and changes in family behavior and interaction. Research suggest...
Intelligent Autonomous Things on the Battlefield

Abstract Numerous, artificially intelligent, networked things will populate the battlefield of the future, operating in close collaboration with human warfighters, and fighting as teams in highly adversarial environments. This chapter explores the characteristics, capabilities, and intelligence required of such a network of intelligent things and humans—Internet of Battle Things (IoBT). The IoBT will experience unique challenges that are not yet well addressed by the current generation of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
To Cancel or Not to Cancel: Exploiting Interference Signal Strength in the Eigenspace for Efficient MIMO DoF Utilization

Degree-of-Freedom (DoF) based models have been widely used to study MIMO networks. To cancel interference, the number of DoFs used in the state-of-the-art DoF models is solely based on the number of interfering data streams. However, by decomposing an interference into the eigenspace, we find that signal strengths varies significantly in different directions for the same interference link. In this paper, we exploited the difference in interference signal strength in the eigenspace and differentiate strong and weak interference signals via their singular values. By introducing a concept of effective rank threshold, we propose to use DoFs only to cancel strong interference in the eigenspace based on this threshold while treating weak interference signals as noise in throughput calculation. We explore a fundamental tradeoff between network throughput and effective rank threshold. Using simulation results on MU-MIMO networks, we show that network throughput under optimal rank threshold setting is significantly higher than that under existing DoF IC models. To ensure feasibility at the PHY layer, we present an algorithm that can find Tx and Rx weights at each node that can offer our desired DoF allocation.
Tobacco Use Among Rural and Urban US Middle and High School Students: National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2011‐2016

Purpose Rural adolescents engage in higher smoking and smokeless tobacco use rates than those from urban communities; urban adolescents are more likely to use e-cigarettes. The study investigated whether place of residence (rural vs urban) is associated with tobacco use prevalence and change in prevalence among middle and high school students over time. Methods We analyzed data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (2011-2016). Multiple logistic regression methods for weighted survey data assessed the relationship of place of residence with current tobacco product use over time, adjusting for demographics. Findings There was no difference in rate of change in use of any tobacco product between rural and urban middle or high school students. Adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and survey year, both middle and high school rural students were more likely to use cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, whereas urban high school students were more likely to use hookah. Significant polynomial trends were observed for e-cigarette and hookah use patterns, whereas linear changes in use patterns were detected for cigarette and smokeless tobacco use over time. Conclusions Rural high school students are more likely to smoke cigarettes and use smokeless tobacco than their urban counterparts, although prevalence rates have decreased over time. However, use of hookah and e-cigarettes among middle and high school students has increased over time regardless of place of residence. To stem the rapid increase in use of hookah and e-cigarettes, comprehensive tobacco control policies are needed regardless of rural or urban location.
Crip Kin, Manifesting

How might those who have experienced medicalized technologies as forms of neglect, intervention, and surveillance begin to cultivate alternative relations to technology? Drawing on the work of three artists—Lisa Bufano, Sunaura Taylor, and Chun-Shan (Sandie) Yi—I explore the possibility of framing technology as a site for crip kin-making. These artists are activating, interrogating, refusing, and repurposing medicalized aesthetics and technologies, finding within them inspiration and resources for their art practice. Rather than evaluating technologies on the basis of their ability to move bodies and minds into heightened productivity, efficiency, normalcy, and speed, they are creating objects and fostering relations that interrogate those very values. Building on scholars who recognize “kin” as encompassing more than the biological, reproductive, legal, and human, I discuss the possibilities of “crip kin,” recognizing the queer possibilities of intimacy with other presences and entities.
Feasibility of a Smartphone-Based Health Coaching Intervention for Patient Self-Management of Nutrition in the Post-Chemotherapy Setting

Abstract Introduction. While quality of life (QoL) has become an increasingly important outcome measure following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), ongoing support services available to patients post-HSCT patients are limited due to high cost and limited reimbursement. Smartphone devices offer a novel means by which to offer low cost, longitudinal support through the use of virtual health coaches. However there is little existing research on the acceptability and effectiveness of using smartphones to deliver health coaching for patients with malignant diseases after HSCT. Methods. Patients were recruited in the outpatient setting in the stem cell transplant clinic at MD Anderson Cancer Center to enroll in digital health coaching. Upon enrollment, patients were asked to download a smartphone application (Vida Health), which allowed participants to communicate in real time with a health coach through live video, phone, or text messages. Coaches provided health education, offered ongoing encouragement, and helped patients set small weekly goals to enhance nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and medication adherence. Patients completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) survey at baseline and 3-month follow up. Results. A total of 62 patients completed at least 3 months of Vida health coaching. The median age was 56 years (45-72 years) and 41% were women. Time elapsed since HSCT ranged from 3 months to 9 months with primary diagnoses being: Myeloma 50%, Lymphoma 20%, Other Hematologic Malignancy 30%. Primary goals as stated by patients were: 72% optimizing nutrition, 60% stress management and emotional support, 60% remembering to take medications, 45% improving sleep, 20% staying physically active. 68% of patients sent at least one message to coach with an average 29 messages sent from patient to coach during the 3 month coaching period. FACT-BMT scores improved significantly after coaching with a 27% improvement in physical wellbeing (pre-coaching mean 6.1, post-coaching 4.7) and a 53% improvement in functional wellbeing (pre-coaching mean 13.8, post-coaching 21.1). Emotional wellbeing also increased 40% (from mean of 10.3 to 6.2). Conclusion. These preliminary findings suggest digital health coaching may help post-HSCT patients improve QoL, particularly among physical, functional, and emotional domains. We believe that utilizing novel tools such as smartphone-enabled health coaching may offer an important means by which to continue to support patients' wellbeing outside of the clinic. Disclosures Chen: Vida Health: Employment, Equity Ownership. Mao: Vida Health: Employment.
At the limits of critical geography: Creative interventions into the exclusionary spaces of U.S. geography

AbstractIn recent years, geographers have increasingly called for and enacted more sustained engagements between geography and the arts. This creative (re)turn represents both a renewed interest in...
Black Sheep Prevail

Black sheep prevail. This theme has guided me throughout my 30+ years in the working world, 25 of them in public education, and into my new career as a Ph.D. student and future academician. Many people feel that their professional career begins after school, but my start came far before that, while I was a young black lamb.
GRP78 expression and clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer: A single institution review.

e16767Background: Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates of all cancers. Poor prognosis can be attributed in part to late detection and chemoresistance....
Understanding alcohol harm reduction behaviors from the perspective of self-determination theory: a research agenda

The evidence for the efficacy of harm reduction approaches to harmful alcohol use has accumulated over the past 30 years. Self-determination theory (SDT) offers a useful framework for understanding...
Association between multiple sclerosis disease severity and adherence to disease-modifying therapies

BACKGROUND: For multiple sclerosis (MS) patients taking disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), adherence to treatment is a key component of achieving beneficial outcomes, such as delayed disease progression and the reduction and prevention of symptoms and relapses. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a claims-based measure of MS disease severity on DMT adherence in a one-year study period. METHODS: Patients were identified from Humana Medicare Advantage claims data from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2015. Patients over the age of 18 with at least 12 months of continuous enrollment and > 1 outpatient MS visit with DMT use prior to the index date were included. Patients who switched DMT type (oral, platform, IV) during the study period were excluded. Medication possession ratios (MPR) for DMTs were calculated from pharmacy and medical claims over 12 months of claims data, and a previously developed claims algorithm was used to determine MS disease severity. Patients with MPRs of 0.8 or higher were considered adherent to DMT treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of MS disease severity, gender, DMT type, and age category with DMT adherence. RESULTS: The study population of 3,347 patients had an average MPR of 84.7 (75% were classified as adherent). Multivariable logistic analysis demonstrated that compared to the 18-45 age group, the 46-64 and 65+ age groups were 1.33 (OR: 1.33 [95% CI 1.08-1.64]) and 1.55 (OR: 1.55, [95% CI 1.18-2.05]) times more likely to be adherent. Patients with a high level of MS disease severity were 53% (OR: 0.47, [95% CI 0.36-0.62]) less likely to be adherent compared to those with low MS disease severity. No significant difference was identified for gender or DMT type (oral, platform, or IV). CONCLUSIONS: Increased age and lower MS disease severity were associated with better DMT adherence. MS disease severity should be considered when assessing risk for low DMT adherence. DISCLOSURES: No funding supported this project. The authors have nothing to disclose. Preliminary results were previously presented virtually at AMCP Annual 2020 in April 2020.
Contemporary management of keratosis obturans: a systematic review.

Objective This study aimed to examine the medical literature regarding the natural history and management of keratosis obturans. Method PubMed was queried via the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol, and the methodological quality of each study was assessed using the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies criteria. Results Fifty-one studies were abstracted, and dual investigator screening resulted in five retrospective studies for final analysis. All studies included patients afflicted with either unilateral (n = 75) or bilateral keratosis obturans (n = 8). The definition of keratosis obturans was present in three studies: a desquamated keratin plug within the external auditory canal. Mean and median Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies scores were 9.5 and 9.5, respectively. All patients underwent keratosis obturans exenteration with microscopy. Two studies reported an outcome instrument to evaluate endpoints: marked stillette and audiometry. No complications were observed with follow-up periods from 3 weeks to 3.5 years. Conclusion This comprehensive review highlights a lack of published evidence relating to keratosis obturans. However, it appears keratosis obturans treatment is safe and efficacious with identifiable clinical practice patterns.