cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hirsutella minnesotensis sp. nov., a new pathogen of the soybean cyst nematode'

Hirsutella minnesotensis, a new fungal species, was isolated and described from second-stage juveniles of the soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines. The fungus can be distinguished from other ...
Autofluorescence And Spectral Domain Oct Findings In Alport Syndrome

The purpose of this study was to report novel autofluorescence and spectral domain optic coherence tomography findings in a case of Alport syndrome. Case report and literature review. A 30-year-old woman with a history of Alport syndrome presented with a full-thickness macular hole in her right eye and evidence of vitreofoveal traction in her asymptomatic left eye. Both eyes had temporal macular thinning. She had anterior lenticonus and perimacular flecks characteristic of Alport syndrome. In addition, fundus autofluorescence revealed an interesting pattern of splotchy hypoautofluorescence in the periphery (in the absence of any peripheral retinopathy on examination), which has not been described previously. Macular hole in Alport syndrome results from basement membrane weakness and an abnormal vitreoretinal interface. Although this makes surgery in these cases challenging, careful separation of the posterior hyaloid and internal limiting membrane peeling with fluid gas exchange can lead to successful closure. Alport syndrome can also cause abnormalities in the retinal pigment epithelium/Bruch membrane leading to abnormal autofluorescence.
Long-Term Outcomes in Continous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients with and without ICD

Methods: Prospectively collected STS and INTERMACS data on all LVADs implanted at our institution from Dec 2008 to Jan 2014 was analyzed by dividing patients into two groups, BMI ≥ 35 and BMI < 35. Results: Of the 157 LVADs implanted during the study period, 121 (77%) were in patients with BMI < 35 and 36 (23%) were in patients with BMI ≥ 35. The BMI ≥ 35 group were younger (47 ± 12.7 yrs. vs. 55 ± 13.4 yrs.) and had more female patients (44% vs. 24%), all P values < 0.05. Preoperative morbidities, INTERMACS class, LVAD type and implantation designation were comparable between the two groups (Table). However, a prior history of myocardial infarction and arrhythmia were significantly higher in BMI < 35 group and right heart catheterization pressures were higher in BMI ≥ 35 group, P = < 0.05. Postoperative and device specific complications were higher in BMI ≥ 35 group, but only bleeding requiring reoperation (42% vs. 22% p = 0.03) and frequency of driveline infections were statistically significant (Table). Operative mortality was higher in BMI ≥ 35 group but was not statistically significant (19.5% vs. 11% p = 0.25). At a mean follow-up of 27.3 ± 20.5 months, fewer patients with a BMI ≥ 35 received a HTx (19% vs. 33% p = 0.15) and they had longer wait times (619 ± 372 vs.403 ± 342 days, p= 0.1). After HTx, patients with a BMI ≥ 35 had significantly higher post operative bleeding requiring reoperation (57% vs. 15% p= 0.03) and a longer hospital stay (45±43 days vs. 27 ± 21 days). HTx survival and graft survival was comparable in both groups. Conclusion: Morbidly obese patients requiring LVAD support encounter higher postoperative complications and wait longer for heart transplantation, however HTx and graft survival is comparable.
Success of donor oocyte in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer in recipients with and without premature ovarian failure

Objective To compare the effectiveness of donor oocyte in IVF-ET in patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) versus those (non-POF) with other indications for donor oocyte IVF-ET. Design Retrospective comparative clinical study. Setting University-based IVF-ET facility. Patients Eighty-six donor oocyte IVF-ET cycles from 32 POF patients (39 cycles) and 38 non-POF patients (47 cycles). Interventions Fertile oocyte donors, age 19 to 38 years, were given luteal phase GnRH agonist, gonadotropins, and hCG. Recipients were given transdermal 17β-E2 and P in oil. Main Outcome Measures Donor and recipient age, characteristics of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation, oocytes retrieved, embryos frozen and transferred, and percentage with male factor infertility; fertilization rate, implantation rate, and clinical pregnancy rate (PR) per cycle and per transfer. Results Given limitations of sample size, there were no detectable differences in clinical PR per cycle and per transfer, fertilization rate, and implantation rate between POF and non-POF groups despite recognizable differences in recipient age and degree of male factor infertility. Conclusions Donor oocyte IVF-ET success rates were not different in patients with and without POF. Age-related changes in oocyte quality, rather than uterine senescence, is a major factor for the age-related decline in fertility.
Empirical Analysis on Teachers′ Scientific Qualities of Higher Vocational College from Sampling Surveys

This paper analyzes teachers′ scientific qualities of higher vocational college based on the result of questionnaire surveys for some higher vocational teachers.It shows that the teachers′ scientific interest is low,the quality of scientific research is not high enough,and many teachers can′t grasp scientific methods well as well as deal with the scientific problems.Therefore,higher vocational teachers should enhance their awareness of scientific research,improve their scientific methods,and develop trainings and study so as to improve their scientific qualities and level.
Medicare Part D and Portfolio Choice

This study evaluates the impact of medical expenditure risk on portfolio choice among the elderly. The risk of large medical expenditures can be substantial for elderly individuals and is only partially mitigated by access to health insurance. The presence of deductibles, copayments, and other cost-sharing mechanisms implies that medical spending risk can be viewed as an undiversifiable background risk. Economic theory suggests that increases in background risk reduce the optimal financial risk that an individual or household is willing to bear (Pratt and Zeckhauser 1987; Elmendorf and Kimball 2000). In this study, we evaluate this hypothesis by estimating the impact of the introduction of the Medicare Part D program, which significantly reduced prescription drug spending risk for seniors, on portfolio choice.
Feasibility and Safety of Unzipping Small Diameter Stents in the Blood Vessels of Piglets.

Abstract Objectives This study sought to determine the feasibility and safety of unzipping small-diameter stents (SDS) in a growing animal model. Background SDS implanted to relieve stenosis of blood vessels in infants may result in refractory stenosis as the child grows. If stents can be longitudinally fractured—unzipped—then the target vessel can potentially be redilated to the eventual adult vessel diameter. Methods Fifty stents (diameter 4 to 7 mm) were implanted in 5 neonatal piglets (mean age and weight = 1.5 weeks and 3.4 kg). Pre-mounted coronary (CS) (n = 24), biliary (BS) (n = 14), nitinol (NS) (n = 3), and renal stents (RS) (n = 9) were implanted in pulmonary arteries (n = 13), systemic arteries (n = 25), and systemic veins (n = 12). Three months later (median weight = 32 kg), unzipping was attempted by dilating the stents. Results All CS and RS unzipped at twice their nominal diameter with Conclusions Unzipping of small-diameter CS and RS implanted in systemic and pulmonary vessels is more feasible than the BS and NS. This study may encourage the implantation of small stents in infant blood vessels and aid in selection of appropriate stent type.
Parameter Interpretation and Reduction for a Unified Statistical Mechanical Surface Tension Model

Surface properties of aqueous solutions are important for environments as diverse as atmospheric aerosols and biocellular membranes. Previously, we developed a surface tension model for both electrolyte and nonelectrolyte aqueous solutions across the entire solute concentration range (Wexler and Dutcher, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2013, 4, 1723–1726). The model differentiated between adsorption of solute molecules in the bulk and surface of solution using the statistical mechanics of multilayer sorption solution model of Dutcher et al. (J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, 3198–3213). The parameters in the model had physicochemical interpretations, but remained largely empirical. In the current work, these parameters are related to solute molecular properties in aqueous solutions. For nonelectrolytes, sorption tendencies suggest a strong relation with molecular size and functional group spacing. For electrolytes, surface adsorption of ions follows ion surface-bulk partitioning calculations by Pegram and Record (J. Phys....
Who Do You Think I Am? Modeling Individual Differences for More Adaptive and Effective Instruction.

The purpose of intelligent tutoring systems is to provide students with personalized instruction and feedback. The focus of these systems typically rests in the adaptability of the feedback provided to students, which relies on automated assessments of performance in the system. A large focus of my previous work has been to determine how natural language processing (NLP)_ techniques can be used to model individual differences based on students’ natural language input. My proposed research will build on this work by using NLP techniques to develop stealth assessments of students’ individual differences and to provide more fine-grained information about the cognitive processes in which these students are engaged throughout the learning task. Ultimately, my aim will be to combine this linguistic data with on-line system data in order to develop more robust student models within ITSs for ill-defined domains.
Transcriptional patterns of reverse remodeling with left ventricular assist devices: a consistent signature

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure. Although originally intended for bridge-to-transplantation and destination therapy indications, a small subset of patients supported with LVADs exhibit complete myocardial recovery leading to device explanation. However, genetic and molecular determinants of partial and/or complete myocardial recovery remain largely unknown. Areas covered: We summarize current knowledge on alterations in heart failure transcriptome in response to LVAD support, as well as discuss common gene signatures potentially responsible for the reverse remodeling phenotype in the failing human heart. Expert commentary: Reverse remodeling after LVAD is likely a continuum between fully and partially recovered myocardium. Multicenter cardiac tissue repositories linked with detailed phenotype information may facilitate identification of genetic signals responsible for myocardial recovery in LVAD supported patients in the foreseeable future.
Style and Poetic Diction in the Xunzi

The Xunzi is widely recognized as a book of well-developed expository prose and hailed as a breakthrough in philosophical cogency and rigorous argument. As such, its twenty-four core chapters are attributed to a single author, Xun Kuang. The present essay challenges these views through a close examination of the Xunzi’s style and rhetoric, including its use of poetic diction, quotations of traditional, authoritative wisdom, metaphors and analogies, rhetorical catalogues, and other features. Focusing specifically on chapter 1, “Quan xue,” the essay unfolds how some of the most prominent parts of the Xunzi are built not as compositions of linear argument but, instead, as collections of mutually independent, modular, and movable units that in their loosely integrated accumulation represent a repertoire of images and expressions associated with particular ideas such as the importance of learning or the moral quality of the noble man (junzi). As such, a chapter such as “Quan xue,” which is largely void of an identifiable authorial voice, may best be seen as a compiled text instead of an original creation. By contrast, chapter 23, “Xing’e,” despite its own problems of textual incoherence and possible corruption, presents an example of stringent expository prose and hard-charging logic, representing a fierce and genuine authorial statement. It is here—in the very chapter for which the Xunzi was rejected by later imperial readers—that we may finally distinguish Xun Kuang the individual thinker. Considering the differences between chapters 1 and 23, with references to a number of other chapters along the way, the essay suggests that as a whole, the Xunzi does not represent the writing of a single person but is an anthology of authored and compiled writings that vary greatly not merely in their themes and philosophical outlook but, even more fundamentally, in their very modes of argumentation.
Comparison of Direct Measures of Adiposity With Indirect Measures for Assessing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Preadolescent Girls

Childhood overweight and obesity remains high, contributing to cardiometabolic risk factors at younger ages. It is unclear which measures of adiposity serve as the best proxies for identifying children at metabolic risk. This study assessed whether DXA-derived direct measures of adiposity are more strongly related to cardiometabolic risk factors in children than indirect measures. Anthropometric and DXA measures of adiposity and a comprehensive assessment of cardiometabolic risk factors were obtained in 288, 9–12 year old girls, most being of Hispanic ethnicity. Multiple regression models for each metabolic parameter were run against each adiposity measure while controlling for maturation and ethnicity. In addition, regression models including both indirect and direct measures were developed to assess whether using direct measures of adiposity could provide a better prediction of the cardiometabolic risk factors beyond that of using indirect measures alone. Measures of adiposity were significantly correlated with cardiometabolic risk factors (p < 0.05) except fasting glucose. After adjusting for maturation and ethnicity, indirect measures of adiposity accounted for 29-34% in HOMA-IR, 10-13% in TG, 14-17% in HDL-C, and 5-8% in LDL-C while direct measures accounted for 29-34% in HOMA-IR, 10-12% in TG, 13-16% in HDL-C, and 5-6% in LDL-C. The addition of direct measures of adiposity to indirect measures added significantly to the variance explained for HOMA-IR (p = 0.04). Anthropometric measures may perform as well as the more precise direct DXA-derived measures of adiposity for assessing most CVD risk factors in preadolescent girls. The use of DXA-derived adiposity measures together with indirect measures may be advantageous for predicting insulin resistance risk. NCT02654262 . Retrospectively registered 11 January 2016.
Short Duration Filgrastim (G-CSF) Therapy (2–4 Days) Is Adequate To Maintain Dose Intensity in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patients Treated with Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine and Dacarbazine (ABVD).

Maintaining dose intensity in Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (HL) correlates with an improved outcome in patients treated with combination chemotherapy. Filgrastim is commonly used as secondary prophylaxis for neutropenia to avoid dose delays and dose reductions. Results from a retrospective review at the Mayo Clinic (Blood 104(11):abs 1317, 2004) demonstrated an increased frequency of pulmonary toxicity in patients with HL treated with bleomycin who had received G-CSF. Thus, using the minimum amount of filgrastim required to maintain dose intensity may be beneficial. We describe below our results using a shortened regimen of filgrastim in conjunction with ABVD chemotherapy. The electronic and/or paper charts of twenty-one adult patients with HL receiving ABVD at KCCC between January 2002 and May 2005 were reviewed. All patients completed at least 2 cycles of ABVD, with a median of 6 (range 2–8) cycles per patient. Of the 21 patients evaluated, 18 required administration of filgrastim as secondary prophylaxis. The precipitating factor requiring administration of filgrastim was a low ANC, which resulted in treatment being held or delayed in all patients. The filgrastim dosing regimen utilized consisted of a median of 3 doses (range 2–4) given days 6–10 post ABVD treatment. The chart review included 21 patients who received a total of 213 treatments with ABVD. Of these treatments, 78 were not preceded by filgrastim, while 135 included filgrastim. When filgrastim was not given, a subsequent dose delay occurred in 16 instances (20.5%) and dose reduction occurred in one (1.33%) instance. Of the 135 ABVD treatments with filgrastim prior to treatment, a subsequent dose delay occurred only once (0.74%) and there were five (3.7%) dose reductions. Filgrastim was dosed at 5 mcg/kg, rounded to the nearest vial size. Five patients received 300 mcg, while the remaining 13 were dosed at 480 mcg. Using this shorter dosing regimen, there is a potential cost savings of $2420 per treatment when compared to 10 doses of filgrastim. Similarly, when compared to pegfilgrastim, there is a potential cost savings of $2470 per treatment. In conclusion, using 2–4 doses of filgrastim is a cost effective method that allows patients who are receiving ABVD to sustain dose intensity. This shortened course of filgrastim may also decrease the risk of lung toxicity. These results identify a valuable approach to potentially improve outcomes in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
A Mechanism-Based PK/PD Model for Hematological Toxicities Induced by Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are complex drug platforms composed of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) conjugated to potent cytotoxic drugs (payloads) via chemical linkers, enabling selective payload delivery to neoplastic cells, resulting in improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris®, SGN-35) and adotrastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla®, T-DM1) are the two FDA-approved and commercially available ADCs, and both drugs exhibit ADC-related thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model for ADCs was developed to identify the analyte from each ADC that is most associated with the observed hematopoietic toxicities and to determine the role of the apparent in vivo payload release rate on the severity of thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Murine xenograft experiments and data from literature were combined, and the PK of both ADCs and their analytes were described with two-compartment models, with linear elimination and first-order payload release rate constants (k rel). ADC-associated hematotoxicities were captured with a previously published PD model for myelosuppression driven by various analytes. ADC half-lives were about 5 days, and k rel values were 0.46 (T-DM1) and 0.12 h−1 (SGN-35). The lifespans of platelets following T-DM1 and neutrophils following SGN-35 were 3.73 and 4.72 days. Comparison of alternate model structures suggested that mechanisms of myelosuppression are payload-driven for SGN-35 and ADC pinocytosis-dependent for T-DM1. Model simulations suggested that a 4-fold increase (T-DM1) and 70% decrease (SGN-35) in k rel would improve hematotoxicity to grade 1. The proposed model successfully captured the PK and associated myelosuppression of both ADCs and might serve as a general PK/PD platform for assessing hematological toxicities to ADCs.
An association between chloroplast DNA haplotypeand gender in a plant metapopulation

Theoretical models have shown that metapopulation structure can influence the evolution of the sex ratio in gynodioecious plants when the fitness of females and/or hermaphrodites varies among populations with the local sex ratio. Such frequency-dependent fitness has been demonstrated previously in natural populations of Silene vulgaris, a gynodioecious plant in which sex determination is cytonuclear. We investigated whether there was an association between chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) haplotype and sex expression, with the assumption that cpDNA haplotypes could be associated with specific male sterility variants likely found in the mitochondrial DNA, owing to co-transmission of the two cytoplasmic genomes. Two cpDNA haplotypes were studied in a collection of 111 individuals of known sex taken from 20 natural populations found in Virginia, USA. The set of haplotype 1 individuals consisted of 71.4% hermaphrodites, where as only 7.7% of the haplotype 2 individuals were hermaphroditic; a highly statistically significant difference. By extension of a previous model it was also shown that the differential clustering of these two haplotypes into local populations contributes to among-population sex ratio variation and has the potential to lower the fitness of haplotype 2 by greater than 50%, relative to that expected with no population structure.
Electronic medical records as a replacement for prospective research data collection in postoperative pain and opioid response studies

Abstract Background and aim Many clinical research studies claim to collect data that are also captured in the electronic medical record (EMR). We evaluate the potential for EMR data to replace prospective research data collection. Methods Using a dataset of 358 surgical patients enrolled in a prospective study, we examined the completeness and agreement of EMR and study entries for several variables, including the patient’s stay in the post-operative care unit (PACU), surgical pain relief and pain medication side effects. Results For all variables with a completeness percentage, values were greater than 96%. For the adverse event variables, we found slight to substantial agreement (Cohen’s kappa), ranging from 0.19 (nausea) to 0.48 (respiratory depression) to 0.73 (emesis). Conclusion The potential to use EMR data as a replacement for prospective research data collection shows promise, but for now, should be evaluated on a variable-by-variable basis.
ON THE STRUCTURE OF L 2,M

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the completeness of the space L2, M with M being the indefinite integral of a nonnegative operator valued measure on a separable Hilbert space. Recently, Cobanjan and Vahanija & Cobanjan have considered second-order stationary stochastic processes taking values in a Banach space X and have shown that the operator-valued measures relevant to the problem are nonnegative operators on X* → X**, which are splitable in the sense that there exists a Hilbert space such that M = T*T where T : X* → X is bounded operator-valued. Differentially eplitable measures arise naturally in prediction theory.
Research to Practice: A "Blueprint" for Closing the Gap in Local Schools.

The long-standing gap between research and practice in general and special education has become a matter of national concern. Described in this article is a “blueprint” designed to bridge the gap b...
“Bringing Your Whole Self to Research”: The Power of the Researcher's Body, Emotions, and Identities in Ethnography

Despite advancements, there remains relatively little research about how researchers navigate their bodies and emotions in the context of field research. Perhaps because it represents a threat to i...
Climate change and the relational city

Abstract While the goals of sustainability and resilience look to the health and function of the system, a new criterion, relationality, focuses relationship and the degree of connectedness, social and otherwise, among persons (and even nonhuman others). It is founded upon an ethic of care that posits that no one is left alone, and that society must place a primary focus on the most vulnerable. This is particularly relevant when considering how cities are beginning to deal with increasingly frequent and severe weather events due to climate change. The idea of relationality is contrasted with the social and political isolation that exacerbates the effects of extreme events on the most vulnerable. The article ends with a discussion around how we might envision and craft the relational city and how this ideal responds to the challenge of climate change and extreme weather.
Impact of Design Changes in Gastrostomy Tube (G-tube) Devices for Patients Who Rely on Home-Based Blenderized Diets for Enteral Nutrition.

Objective: Blenderized diets are gaining increasing popularity among enteral tube users. Connectors in gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) are undergoing standardization to reduce misconnections. These sta...
The Disenchantment of the Sky in Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers

In some deep spot in the psyche, humans need enchantment. The unknown provides opportunity for humans to invest an element with enchantment, for example, blank spots on the map and the sky. In Tom Stoppard’s play Jumpers, the main female character Dotty, a singer and actress has had a nervous breakdown because of a landing on the moon. Disenchantment is a process of rationalization; enchantment is the opposite of rationalization. As areas of human experience become increasingly explored by reason, they become unavailable for enchantment. According to Max Weber, “The increasing intellectualization and rationalization do not, therefore, indicate an increased and general knowledge of the condition under which one lives” (139). Weber clarifies his point, “It means something else, … that principally there are no mysterious incalculable forces that come into play, but rather that one can, in principle, master all things by calculation. This means that the world is disenchanted” (139). Behind this may be Phenomenological concepts explained by Schutz and Luckmann. We again recall William James’s dictum that “any object which remains uncontradicted is ipso facto believed and posited as an absolute reality.” [James, Principles of Psychology, II, 289.] Husserl also comes to the same conclusion. [Erfahrung und Urtiel, 74a, pp. 359ff] (Schutz and Luckmann 30) “Of the imaginer (the dreamer), who lives in a world of imagination, we cannot say that he posits fictions as fictions; rather, he has modified actualities, actualities as-if. … Only he who lives in experience and from there ‘dips into’ imagination, whereby what is imagined contrasts with what is experienced, can have the concept of fiction and actuality” [Husserl’s italics] [Erfahrung und Urtiel, p. 360) (Schutz and Luckmann 30–31). Disenchantment is shown in the play to be spreading to more vital areas such as religious belief. Dotty’s husband, the main male character, believes in reason, but he knows that irrationality is essential as well; humanity needs balance. He says in Jumpers, “The National Gallery is a monument to irrationality! Every concert hall is a monument to irrationality! … The irrational, the emotional, the whimsical … these are the stamp of humanity which makes reason a civilizing force” (40). The negative effect of disenchantment and how humanity overcomes this problem provides a key entering point for an analysis of Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers.
Sodium atom beam collisions with the liquid glycerol surface: Mass effects of deuteration

Abstract Gas-phase sodium atom collisions with liquid glycerol were investigated by atomic beam scattering from normal and deuterated surfaces. The scattering signal of the recoiling effusive Na atom beam was monitored by a mass spectrometer. Because all thermally equilibrated Na atoms ionize into the liquid surface, this system was uniquely suited to interrogate the subtle kinematic effect of glycerol deuteration on the collisional energy transfer process within the impulsive scattering regime. An interplay of kinematic and vibrational effects explains the Na scattering behavior from variously deuterated glycerol surfaces, extending our fundamental understanding of collisional energy transfer, and ultimately, chemical reaction dynamics.
Successive Reimplantation of Dental Implants Into Sites of Previous Failure.

Purpose To evaluate the survival rates of dental implants that had been reimplanted in sites of previous failure, including first, second, and third reimplantations, and investigate the various factors that could affect the reimplantation outcomes. Materials and methods All dental implants placed in sites of previous implant failure were identified, including first, second, and third reimplantations. The survival rates were assessed, and epidemiologic and clinical data were collected and analyzed to evaluate the effects on reimplantation survival. Results The survival rate for the total number of initial implants placed was 95.4% (5280 of 5532). For the 208 patients with failed implants, the survival rate was 62.0% (412 of 664). The survival rate of the implants placed in the sites of previous failure (first reimplantation) was 77.4% (137 of 177 implants). A statistically significant difference was found (P = .0001) between the survival rates of implants placed for the first time and implants placed into sites of previous failure. The survival rate of the second reimplantations was 72.7% (16 of 22). The survival rate of the third reimplantations was 50.0% (1 of 2). Each implant and reimplant group demonstrated a statistically significant greater percentage of postoperative pain reports in the failure group than in the survival group. A significantly greater percentage of early failures (failures occurring before abutment connection) occurred compared with late failures for each implant and reimplant group. Conclusions Dental implants placed in sites of previous implant failure had lower survival rates than those of the initial implants, and our findings suggested that the survival rates will be consecutively lower with each successive reimplantation at the same site. Implant and reimplant failures were associated with higher rates of postoperative pain reports and were more often early failures. Such suggestions could improve clinicians' prediction for implant failure and allow for optimization of the conditions to improve implant survival.
Early Head Start service use by families with court-substantiated maltreatment

Abstract Early Head Start (EHS) is an evidence-based intervention program for at-risk children birth through three that seeks to improve child and family well-being. There is little research to date examining the prevalence of child maltreatment among families enrolled in EHS and the extent to which maltreatment is associated with receipt of programs and services available to EHS families. This study sought to (a) identify the prevalence of court-substantiated maltreatment in EHS families; and (b) determine the association between substantiated maltreatment and use of EHS program and community-linked services. To answer these questions, archival program and clinical service records and juvenile court records on 743 EHS families were extracted and analyzed. Negative binomial and logistic regression models examined the relationship between court-substantiated maltreatment and use of program and community-linked services. Overall, 14.9% of enrolled families had a court-substantiated case of maltreatment. Presence of a maltreatment record was differentially associated with use of program services, including overall number of home visits (β = −0.16, p = 0.014, 95% CI [−0.28, −0.03]) and receipt of Child Abuse Prevention Services (OR = 7.21, 95% CI [3.21, 16.21]), Domestic Violence Assistance (OR = 5.88, 95% CI [2.55, 13.53]), and English as a Second Language (OR = 0.26, 95% CI [0.11, 0.63]. Children and families served by EHS experience maltreatment at higher rates than the general population. There is a need to develop strategies to explicitly target families who experience child maltreatment. Implications for serving and engaging high-risk families in EHS are discussed.
Travel, Diarrhea, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial Resistance and Practice Guidelines—a Holistic Approach to a Health Conundrum

Given the recent interest in the interface between travelers’ diarrhea (TD) management guidelines and antimicrobial resistance from both the patient and population perspectives, we have undertaken a review of the evidence with an aim towards practical and pragmatic recommendations. Antimicrobial resistance continues to be an existential threat. Therefore, an update is needed on the pathogens that cause TD, the role of antibiotics, the potential changes in microbiome and acquisiton of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria, and lastly the impact of MDR acquisition of the traveler on individual, community, and global health through a holistic framework. Important research gaps and opportunities in this area are identified, as well as practical guidance for the travel medicine community offered.
Structural control and vibration issues in wind turbines: A review

Abstract Over the years, the wind energy industry has grown rapidly because of its eco-friendly and sustainability features. The development of wind industry demands larger wind turbines, which brings more issues because of higher dynamic loads. Passive, active and semi-active control are major techniques to resolve these issues. This paper reviews the characteristics of these control methods and the recent development of novel controls are discussed. The challenging issues related to structural control of wind turbines due to mechanical vibration are summarized. Recent modeling as well as numerical techniques to simulate wind turbines’ behavior under multihazard dynamic loadings are presented. To evaluate the efficacy of recent control methods under different conditions and environments, a comparative procedure is proposed. The procedure relates the output characteristics and system performance to different types of inputs through modeling of structure and external stressors. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) prototype and coupled Lagrange method are the reference model and modeling technique, respectively. An example application of comparing several dampers using the proposed procedure is presented. The comparison of displacement, acceleration, shear and overturning moment reductions are discussed, and the viscous dampers have the best efficacy among other passive control systems.
Adult spinal deformity surgery: the effect of surgical start time on patient outcomes and cost of care.

There are reports investigating the effect of surgical start time (SST) on outcomes, length of stay (LOS) and cost in various surgical disciplines. However, this has not been studied in spine deformity surgery to date. This study compares outcomes for patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery based on SST. Patients at a single academic institution from 2008 to 2016 undergoing elective spinal deformity surgery (defined as fusing ≥ 7 segments) were divided by SST before or after 2 PM. Co-primary outcomes were LOS and direct costs. Secondary outcomes included delayed extubation, ICU stay, complications, reoperation, non-home discharge, and readmission rates. There were 373 surgeries starting before 2 PM and 79 after 2 PM. The cohorts had similar demographics including age, sex, comorbidity burden, and levels fused. The late SST cohort had shorter operation durations (p = 0.0007). Multivariable linear regression showed no differences in LOS (estimate 0.4 days, CI − 1.2 to 2.0, p = 0.64) or direct cost (estimate $3652, 95% CI − $1449 to $8755, p = 0.16). Multivariable logistic regression revealed the late SST cohort was more likely to have delayed extubation (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4–4.9, p = 0.004) and non-home discharge (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.2, p = 0.03). All other secondary outcomes were non-significant. Patients undergoing spinal deformity surgery before and after 2 PM have similar LOS and cost of care. However, the late SST cohort had increased likelihood of delayed extubation and non-home discharges, which increase cost in bundled payment models. These findings can be utilized in OR scheduling to optimize outcomes and minimize cost.
The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function®-Adult Version is Related to Emotional Distress, Not Executive Dysfunction, in a Veteran Sample.

Objective In three studies, we explore the impact of response bias, symptom validity, and psychological factors on the self-report form of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version (BRIEF-A) and the relationship between self-reported executive functioning (EF) and objective performance. Method Each study pulled from a sample of 123 veterans who were administered a BRIEF-A and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) during a neuropsychological evaluation. Participants were primarily middle-aged, and half carried a mood disorder diagnosis. Study 1 examined group differences in BRIEF-A ratings among valid, invalid, and indeterminate MMPI-2 responders. Analyses were conducted to determine the optimal cut-score for the BRIEF-A Negativity Validity scale. In Study 2, relationships were explored among MMPI-2-RF (restructured form) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales, somatic/cognitive scales, and the BRIEF-A Metacognition Index (MI); hierarchical analyses were performed to predict MI using MMPI-2-RF Demoralization (RCd) and specific RC scales. Study 3 correlated BRIEF-A clinical scales and indices with RCd and an EF composite score from neuropsychological testing. Hierarchical analyses were conducted to predict BRIEF-A clinical scales. Results Invalid performance on the MMPI-2 resulted in significantly elevated scores on the BRIEF-A compared to those with valid responding. A more stringent cut-score of ≥4 for the BRIEF-A Negativity scale is more effective at identifying invalid symptom reporting. The BRIEF-A MI is most strongly correlated with demoralization. BRIEF-A indices and scales are largely unrelated to objective EF performance. Conclusions In a veteran sample, responses on the BRIEF-A are most representative of generalized emotional distress and response bias, not actual EF abilities.
Open Abdominal Aortic and Iliac Aneurysm Repair in a Patient with Cirrhosis of the Liver

Open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm and iliac aneurysm in a patient with compensated cirrhosis of the liver was performed. Post-op course was complicated by dilutional coagulopathy, transient deterioration of liver function tests, and pulmonary complications. Open repair of AAA in patients with cirrhosis of the liver is discussed.
Queer, trans and intersectional theory in educational practice: Edited by Cris Mayo and Mollie V. Blackburn, London: Routledge, 2019. 220 pp., ISBN 978-0-3674-1836-6

Queer, Trans and Intersectional Theory in Educational Practice: Student, Teacher & Community Expectations is an edited volume that addresses the engagement with queer theory, trans theory and inter...
Dynamic simulation of a novel nuclear hybrid energy system with large-scale hydrogen storage in an underground salt cavern

Abstract In this study, a nuclear hybrid energy system (NHES) with large-scale hydrogen storage integrated with a gas turbine cycle is proposed as a flexible system for load following. The proposed system consists of a nuclear reactor, a steam Rankine cycle, a hydrogen electrolyzer, a storage system for hydrogen in an underground salt cavern, and a Brayton cycle that uses hydrogen as fuel to generate additional electricity to meet peak demand. A dynamic mathematical model is developed for each subsystem of the NHES. To evaluate the potential benefits of the system, a one-year study is conducted, using scaled grid demand data from ISO New England. The dynamic simulation results show that the system is capable of meeting the demand of the grid without additional electricity from outside sources for 93% of the year, while decreasing the number of ramping cycles of the nuclear reactor by 92.7%. There is also potential for economic benefits as the system only had to ramp up and down 7.4% of the year, which increased the nuclear capacity factor from 86.3% to 98.3%. The simulation results show that the proposed hybrid system improves the flexibility of nuclear power plants, provides more electricity, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Sensitivity Analysis in Ocean Acoustic Propagation

The sensitivity of acoustic pressure to sound speed is investigated through the application of adjoint-based sensitivity analysis using an acoustic propagation model. The sensitivity analysis is extended to temperature and salinity, by deriving the adjoint of the sound polynomial function of temperature and salinity. Numerical experiments using a range dependent model are carried out in a deep and complex environment at the frequency of 300 Hz. It is shown that through the adjoint sensitivity analysis one can infer reasonable variations of sound speed, and thus temperature and salinity. Successful extension of the sensitivity of acoustic pressure to temperature and salinity implies that acoustic pressure observations in a given range-depth plane can be assimilated into an ocean model using the acoustic propagation model as the observation operator.
Placental mediated mechanisms of perinatal brain injury: Evolving inflammation and exosomes

Pregnancy itself is an inflammatory process that is carefully regulated by the placenta via immunomodulation and cell-to-cell communication of maternal and fetal tissues. Exosomes, types of extracellular vesicles, facilitate the intercellular communication and traffic biologically modifying cargo within the maternal-placental-fetal axis in normal and pathologic pregnancies. Chorioamnionitis is characterized by inflammation of chorioamniotic membranes that produces systemic maternal and fetal inflammatory responses of cytokine dysregulation and has been associated with brain injury and neurodevelopmental disorders. This review focuses on how pathologic placental exosomes propagate acute and chronic inflammation leading to brain injury. The evidence reviewed here highlights the need to investigate exosomes from pathologic pregnancies and those with known brain injury to identify new diagnostics, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets.
Plugging into the Body of the Leviathan: Proposal for a New Sociology of Public Interventions

The main argument of this short essay is that the concept of intellectual , especially the somewhat redundant neologism of public intellectual , is too narrow to guide research on how interventions in public affairs are currently authored, crafted, and operated. Instead, I propose the concept of public interventions to inform a more comprehensive approach that broadens the analytical frame by multiplying relevant agencies, modes and targets of intervention. This approach is inspired by Foucault’s (2000) distinction between the “universal” and “specific” intellectual; Bourdieu’s ( Corporatism ) replacement of the latter by a “collective intellectual”; and the approach to the public sphere urged by the contributors to Making Things Public (Latour and Weibel).
A POLISH POPE AND AN AMERICAN PRESIDENT: 1979–1989

At the twentieth anniversary celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, an observer in Berlin described the attempts by some in the West to rewrite the history of the collapse of communism. During the four-day celebration of that anniversary, speeches contained no mention of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, communism, who built the Wall (and why); no historical context; and only a few mentions of Pope John Paul II. But Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader who desperately tried to hold the Soviet system together, and who initially feared and opposed German reunification and the removal of the Berlin Wall, was mentioned repeatedly. Re-
Racial and ethnic differences in health behaviors among cancer survivors.

Introduction: Previous studies of health behaviors of adult cancer survivors have not adequately examined racial and ethnic differences because of small sample sizes. A national data set was used to examine differences in health behaviors between cancer survivors and controls and between racial and ethnic groups among survivors. Methods: The study analyzed 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey data in 2012–2014. Descriptive statistics were used to examine differences in health behaviors between cancer survivors and controls aged 20–64 years. Multivariable analysis was conducted to examine associations between race/ethnicity (white, African American, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American) and health behaviors (BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and smoking status) while adjusting for demographic and medical characteristics. Significance was set at po0.01. Results: Compared with controls (n¼245,283), cancer survivors (n¼17,158) had higher prevalence ratesfor overweight/obesestatus (67% vs 65%); notmeetingphysicalactivityrecommendations(53% vs 49%); and current smoking status(22% vs20%). In themultivariable model, diet and smokingbehavior differedacross cancer status. African American(AOR¼1.95) and Hispanic (AOR¼2.06) survivors were more likely to have higher BMI than white survivors. African American survivors (AOR¼1.6) were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines. Native American (AOR¼3.08) and multiracial (AOR¼1.74) survivors were more likely to be current smokers than non-Hispanic white survivors. Conclusions: This study suggests that racial and ethnic differences exist in the adoption of recommended health behaviors; future research should identify factors to reduce these differences. (Am J Prev Med 2015;48(6):729–736) & 2015 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Paper: Safeguards design for a plutonium concentrator

In this paper we consider the design of a nonlinear estimator to be used in conjunction with on-line detectors for a plutonium nitrate concentrator. Using a complex state-of-the-art process model to simulate 'realistic' data, we show that the estimator performance using a simplified process model is adequate over a wide range of operation. The estimator is used to simulate and characterize some on-line diversion detectors, i.e. detectors designed to indicate if some of the critical special nuclear material in process is stolen or diverted from the unit. Simulation results indicate that the estimators and detectors yielded reasonable performance for the scenarios investigated.
The Aging Brain

Aging is an important risk factor for the development of many chronic illnesses that increase functional disability and limit survival, including vascular disease, diabetes and dementia. These diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent in the US with the growth of our elderly population. One consistent finding in aging individuals and animals is the evidence of persistent low level elevations in circulating markers of inflammation, a phenomenon known as “inflammaging”. This pro-inflammatory phenotype contributes to a global reduction in the capability of older individuals to cope with antigenic, toxic, physical and ischemic stressors. Elevated levels of inflammatory markers are strongly associated with increased risk for diabetes, coronary heart disease, frailty, stroke and mortality. Aging not only leads to higher baseline levels of systemic inflammatory markers, but also enhances baseline and stimulus-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in the brain. Advanced age increased T cells, dendritic cell...
Tn5-mediated transposition of plasmid DNA after transduction to Myxococcus xanthus.

After coliphage P1-mediated transfer of Tn5-containing plasmid DNA from Escherichia coli to Myxococcus xanthus, transductants were identified which contained plasmid sequences integrated at many sites on the bacterial chromosome. The unaltered plasmid DNA sequences in these transductants were apparently flanked by intact Tn5 or IS50 sequences. These results suggest that Tn5-mediated transposition has occurred and provide a method for integrating plasmid DNA into the M. xanthus chromosome without the requirement for homologous recombination. Images
Anesthesia for In-Office Oculoplastic Surgery: How We Do It

The effective use of local anesthesia combined with minimal oral sedation can obviate the need for intravenous sedation or general anesthesia in many common oculoplastic procedures. We routinely perform upper and lower blepharoplasty, fat pad repositioning, ptosis correction, tumor removal and reconstruction, and entropion and ectropion repair without the use of intravenous or general anesthesia.