cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors influencing nurse compliance with Standard Precautions

Background Exposure to blood and bodily fluids represents a significant occupational risk for nurses. The most effective means of preventing bloodborne pathogen transmission is through adherence to Standard Precautions (SP). Despite published guidelines on infection control and negative health consequences of noncompliance, significant issues remain around compliance with SP to protect nurses from bloodborne infectious diseases, including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV. Methods A descriptive correlational study was conducted that measured self-reported compliance with SP, knowledge of HCV, and perceived susceptibility and severity of HCV plus perceived benefits and barriers to SP use. Relationships between the variables were examined. Registered nurses (N = 231) working in ambulatory settings were surveyed. Results Fewer than one-fifth (17.4%) of respondents reported compliance with all 9 SP items. Mean score for correct responses to the HCV knowledge test was 81%. There was a significant relationship between susceptibility of HCV and compliance and between barriers to SP use and compliance. Conclusions This study explored reasons why nurses fail to adopt behaviors that protect them and used the Health Belief Model for the theoretical framework. It concentrated on SP and HCV because more than 5 million people in the United States and 200 million worldwide are infected with HCV, making it 1 of the greatest public health threats faced in this century. Understanding reasons for noncompliance will help determine a strategy for improving behavior and programs that target the aspects that were less than satisfactory to improve overall compliance. It is critical to examine factors that influence compliance to encourage those that will lead to total compliance and eliminate those that prevent it.
Two-Step Pyrolysis Process for Producing High Quality Bio-oils

A newly developed two-step pyrolysis process for the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass components into sugar-rich and lignin-derived rich bio-oils by using pinewood as the feedstock has been studied. In the first step, biomass is pyrolyzed between 300 and 350 °C decomposing cellulose and hemicellulose fibers to produce bio-oil having significantly higher selectivities toward sugars and lower selectivities toward low molecular weight oxygenated compounds, such as organic acids, aldehydes, and ketones than those of bio-oil produced from the conventional one-step pyrolysis at 500 °C. In the second step, the lignin-rich biomass remaining was pyrolyzed in the presence of HZSM-5 catalyst to produce aromatic-rich bio-oil with low selectivity toward oxygenated compounds. Comparison with the conventional one-step 500 °C catalytic pyrolysis showed the advantage of biomass “heat pretreatment” in the first-step pyrolysis, which promoted the decomposition of lignin to monomeric phenolic compounds which were mor...
Cigarette smoke inhibits ROCK2 activation in T cells and modulates IL-22 production

Gene-environment interactions are known to play a key role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) is one of the strongest environmental risk factors associated with RA and has been shown to mediate a range of complex immunomodulatory effects from decreased T and B cell activation to depressed phagocytic function. The effects of CS on the function of TH17 cells, one of the key TH effector subsets implicated in RA pathogenesis, are not fully understood. IRF4 is one of the crucial transcription factors involved in TH-17 differentiation and is absolutely required for the production of IL-17 and IL-21 but, interestingly, inhibits the synthesis of IL-22. The production of IL-17 and IL-21 by IRF4 can be augmented by its phosphorylation by the serine-threonine kinase ROCK2. Given that CS has been reported to increase ROCK activity in endothelial cells, here we investigated the effects of CS on the ROCK2-IRF4 axis in T cells. Surprisingly, we found that CS leads to decreased ROCK2 activation and IRF4 phosphorylation in T cells. This effect was associated with increased IL-22 production. Using a GEF pull-down assay we furthermore identify ARHGEF1 as a key upstream regulator of ROCK2 whose activity in T cells is inhibited by CS. Thus CS can inhibit the ROCK2-IRF4 axis and modulate T cell production of IL-22.
Evaluation of pleiotropic effects among common genetic loci identified for cardio-metabolic traits in a Korean population.

Background The genetic contribution to complex diseases or traits, including cardio-metabolic traits, has been elucidated recently by large-scale genome-wide association studies. These genome-wide association studies have indicated that most pleiotropic loci contain genes associated with lipids. Clinically, lipid related abnormalities are strongly associated with other diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease and hypertension. The aim of this study was to evaluate the shared genetic background of lipids and other cardio-metabolic traits.
Relationships Between Regional Soils and Foliage Characteristics and Western Spruce Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Outbreak Frequency

A study was conducted to determine if there were any relationships between western spruce budworm ( Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman) outbreak frequency and general soil and foliage variables in Idaho and Montana. Soil and foliage data were collected at 80 sites in Idaho and Montana and subjected to a variety of laboratory analyses. Soil samples from areas with high western spruce budworm outbreak frequency had no volcanic ash present, low available moisture, and extractable aluminum compared with other outbreak frequency classes. Current-year budworm host foliage from areas with high outbreak frequency had high sodium and phosphorous levels and low calcium levels. Discriminant functions developed indicated that soil and foliage characteristics, particularly the depth of the volcanic ash mantle, could be used to predict the western spruce budworm outbreak frequency classes. Results will be of value to researchers and forest managers interested in the factors which contribute to western spruce budworm outbreaks.
Sweat Gland Denervation in Cerebellar Ataxia with Neuropathy and Vestibular Areflexia Syndrome (CANVAS)

Cerebellar ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS) is a newly recognized disorder characterized by cerebellar ataxia, nonlength-dependent sensory impairment, and bilateral vestibular loss. Sudomotor dysfunction has been described in CANVAS; however, the underlying pathology is not well characterized. To describe novel histopathological features of this syndrome, 2 siblings are presented who had CANVAS with unique findings of sweat gland denervation. Skin biopsy testing was performed to assess sudomotor structure and revealed markedly reduced sweat gland nerve fiber density below the 2.5th percentile in both patients. These histopathological findings suggest that postganglionic sudomotor dysfunction is an additional feature of CANVAS.
Two Species of Lichen-Mining Mossmites

Both species here described dwell in the thallus of crustose, lichens. The first occurs near Ithaca, N. Y., the second on the holy mountain, Taishan, in Shantung, China.
Decomposition of L-valine under nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma.

l-Valine solutions in water and phosphate buffer were treated with nonthermal plasma generated by using a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) device and the products generated after plasma treatments were characterized by 1H NMR and GC-MS. Our results demonstrate that l-valine is decomposed to acetone, formic acid, acetic acid, threo-methylaspartic acid, erythro-methlyaspartic acid, and pyruvic acid after direct exposure to DBD plasma. The concentrations of these compounds are time-dependent with plasma treatment. The mechanisms of l-valine under the DBD plasma are also proposed in this study. Acetone, pyruvic acid, and organic radicals •CHO, CH3COCH2OO• (acetonylperoxy), and CH3COC(OH)2OO• (1,1-dihydroxypropan-2-one peroxy) may be the determining chemicals in DNA damage.
Book and Resource Reviews

Reviews the book "The Complete Guide to Systems Thinking and Learning," by Stephen G. Haines.
Male Red-backed Fairywrens appear to enhance a plumage-based signal via adventitious molt

ABSTRACT Phenotypically plastic signals that can be altered in response to changing environmental conditions provide animals with the ability to dynamically signal their current condition or status. Such flexibility might also provide a means of avoiding potential trade-offs between signal components. Among birds, for example, both the timing of expression and the coloration of nuptial plumage are often thought to be honest signals of condition. However, because plumage is a relatively static signal type, birds that express condition-dependent plumage signals may face a trade-off between timing of signal production and signal quality, in that signals produced relatively early may be of lower quality because of seasonal constraints. A related cost may be increased fading or wear of plumage associated with extended duration of signal expression. Male Red-backed Fairywrens (Malurus melanocephalus) exhibit asynchronous development of nuptial red–black plumage, with some individuals molting into nuptial plumag...
The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit—An Evolving Model for Health Care Delivery

Prior to the advent of the coronary care unit (CCU), patients having an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were managed on the general medicine wards with reported mortality rates of greater than 30%. The first CCUs are believed to be responsible for reducing mortality attributed to AMI by as much as 40%. This drastic improvement can be attributed to both advances in medical technology and in the process of health care delivery. Evolving considerably since the 1960s, the CCU is now more appropriately labeled as a cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) and represents a comprehensive system designed for the care of patients with an array of advanced cardiovascular disease, an entity that reaches far beyond its early association with AMI. Grouping of patients by diagnosis to a common physical space, dedicated teams of health care providers, as well as the development and implementation of evidence-based treatment algorithms have resulted in the delivery of safer, more efficient care, and most importantly better patient outcomes. The CICU serves as a platform for an integrated, team-based patient care delivery system that addresses a broad spectrum of patient needs. Lessons learned from this model can be broadly applied to address the urgent need to improve outcomes and efficiency in a variety of health care settings.
Interview with Christine Franklin

(2013). Interview with Christine Franklin. Journal of Statistics Education: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. null.
Teaching Work and Gender in the Twenty-First Century

Today’s undergraduate students seldom question women’s presence or roles in the workplace. Because they have come to see women’s employment as common place, they are often less aware of the persistent gender inequalities in the workplace or the historical roots of these patterns. Throughout my course on Work and Gender I challenge students to think critically about what constitutes “work” and the disparity in the social and economic value of paid and unpaid labor, how race, ethnicity, and social class have influenced gender roles and rewards over time, and how social policy, gendered organizations, and family roles impact the opportunities, experiences, and compensation workers can expect as a result of their gender. These objectives are accomplished through the reading and discussion of empirical research, personal reflections, guest speakers, and documentary film. My goals in teaching this course are for students to come away with a greater awareness of the intersection of race, class, and gender in work and family roles as well as perspective to draw on in their own personal and professional paths.
TimeTree: A Novel Way to Visualize and Manage Exploratory Search Process

Methods have been proposed to assist activities in exploratory search processes, but few allow the users to appropriately manage their own search processes. In this paper, we present the TimeTree workspace provided in our process-oriented search system CiteXplore that supports visualized management of search processes and enables reviewing and retrospecting of information during long-term exploratory search. Formal user experiments with 16 participants have been proposed to evaluate the proposed methods. We also discuss possible research directions to use TimeTree to reuse search experiences by enabling collaborative search and providing visualized recommendations.
Dutch books, dutch strategies and what they show about rationality

Bayesians typically appeal to the so-called Dutch Book argument to justify their claim that a rational agent’s degrees of belief must obey the axioms of probability. The argument has also been extended in support of two other Bayesian principles: the rule of conditionalization, which states that when the evidence E is learned the new probability (degree of belief ) for the proposition A should be equal to the old probability of A given E, and the principle of reflection which states that an agent’s current subjective probability for A, conditional on the supposition that she will later attach a probability to A equal to r, must equal r. 2 Considerable attention has been focused on the structure of the basic argument to show that degrees of belief must satisfy the probability axioms and on whether it established this claim. Recently, a number of authors have suggested that what the basic argument really shows is that degrees of belief which fail to satisfy the axioms suffer from a form of inconsistency and because of this are defective. In his paper, “Clever Bookies and Coherent Beliefs”, David Christensen not only endorses this view, but further argues that on this reading of the basic Dutch Book argument, it follows that the argument cannot adequately be extended to justify belief change by conditionalization nor to justify the principle of reflection. 3 In this paper, I argue that Christensen’s criticisms of the Dutch Book arguments for conditionalization and reflection are unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, I agree that the arguments do not show that an agent who violates these principles must be irrational. In the final section of the paper, I suggest that the Dutch Book arguments for conditionalization and reflection do lend support for these principles as ideals of certain sorts, although they do not show that they are requirements of rationality.
The Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: Is It Now the Standard of Care?

Article, see p 635 The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2001. Since then, use of the WCD has grown steadily, and the device is now also available in Australia, Europe, Israel, Japan, and Singapore. Earlier this year, the American Heart Association published a science advisory that rated the use of the WCD as it is reasonable (Class IIa) or may be considered (Class IIb) in several specific patient categories.1 At this point, many clinicians worldwide wonder if the WCD has become standard of care. Are we delivering inadequate care if we do not offer the WCD to our patients? The WCD received US Food and Drug Administration approval (as durable medical equipment) primarily on the basis of the demonstration of shock efficacy in controlled laboratory settings. The first systematic clinical evaluation was the WEARIT/BIROAD study (Wearable Defibrillator Investigative Trial and Bridge to ICD in Patients at Risk of Arrhythmic Death), a nonrandomized, noncontrolled series published in 2004.2 It followed up 289 patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD) who were given the WCD. In this population, 6 of 8 (75%) defibrillation attempts were successful. The 6 sudden deaths all occurred in patients not wearing the WCD as instructed. This was the first study to demonstrate the feasibility and reasonable efficacy of the WCD. Since the WEARIT/BIROAD study, there has been a steady stream of observational research supporting the use of the WCD in a variety of clinical settings. It has been studied specifically in patients with recent myocardial infarction (MI), newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy, recent revascularization, peripartum cardiomyopathy, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, congenital structural heart disease, and inherited arrhythmias.3–8 Aggregate US nationwide data from the manufacturer (ZOLL, Pittsburg, PA) registry have also been reported.9 These data showed …
The special clinical problem of symptomatic hydrocephalus with normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure: Observations on cerebrospinal fluid hydrodynamics

Abstract In a series of personally observed cases, three of which are reported in detail, the authors have noted that a state of symptomatic hydrocephalus may exist in the presence of normal CSF pressure. The patients had exhibited mental dullness, inattentiveness, psychomotor retardation, unsteadiness of gait, and incontinence of urine, a syndrome which may be mistakenly ascribed to a degenerative or traumatic vascular disease of the cerebrum. Ventriculo-atrial shunt corrected this condition and permitted recovery by lowering the CSF pressure 20 or more mm of water. An important factor, heretofore overlooked, in explaining this symptomatic hydrocephalus with relatively normal CSF pressure is that the force exerted on the ventricular wall represents a product of pressure times surface area. A given pressure exerts a greater force in a large ventricular system than in a small one. A pressure of 170 or 180 mm H 2 O in ventricles that are three times normal size may produce symptoms, whereas it would not do so in a normal-sized ventricular system. This hydraulic press hypothesis must be applied in all cases of hydrocephalus. Without some knowledge of ventricular size in this condition, the CSF pressure cannot be accurately evaluated. This physical principle applies not only to adult hydrocephalus but also to infantile hydrocephalus, where the cranium expands, and to certain types of porencephaly and postoperative meningeal cysts and possibly syringomyelia.
The Question of the Animal and Religion: Theoretical Stakes, Practical Implications

(2017). The Question of the Animal and Religion: Theoretical Stakes, Practical Implications. Anthrozoos: Vol. 30, No. 2, pp. 350-351.
Evaluating ceramic crown margins with digital radiography

Abstract Statement of problem Radiographs aid in clinically determining crown fit, specifically interproximal margins where tactile and visual methods may be limited. However, investigations of the utility of digital radiographs as a tool for evaluating the marginal openings of ceramic crowns are lacking. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess whether marginal adaptation for ceramic crowns and for metal–ceramic crowns with a metal collar can be identified with digital radiographs. Material and methods One lithium disilicate crown, 1 fluorapatite crown, and 1 metal–ceramic crown were fabricated for a maxillary premolar. The crowns were attached to a custom-designed device that allowed the marginal discrepancy to be changed. A total of 10 increments were measured starting at 0 to 20 μm and increasing every 20 μm to a maximum opening of 180 to 200 μm. At each increment, 2 radiographs were made of the crowns, using a digital sensor, 1 perpendicular to and 1 at 80 degrees to the long axis of the tooth. To test whether digital radiographs could be used to accurately identify "acceptable" and "unacceptable" margins, 21 dentists were asked to rate the radiographs as "acceptable" or "unacceptable." The chi square test was used to analyze differences between the dentists' evaluations and the actual marginal opening (α=.05). For the purposes of this study, a marginal discrepancy greater than 80 μm was considered "unacceptable." Results Of all marginal discrepancies exceeding 80 μm, 78.6% of the metal–ceramic crown radiographs were incorrectly scored as "acceptable" ( P P Conclusions Using digital radiographs to evaluate marginal adaptation without clinical examination is not by itself an accurate method of evaluating the marginal fit of complete coverage crowns. The marginal fit of the tested metal–ceramic crowns tended to be evaluated incorrectly as acceptable. The marginal fit of the tested ceramic crowns tended to be evaluated incorrectly as unacceptable.
First experience of the usage of a GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder device for treatment of a significant residual commissural mitral regurgitation jet following a MitraClip procedure.

The MitraClip (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) procedure has emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for treatment of selected patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) who are at high risk for surgery. Effective reduction of MR is important to ensure an optimal clinical outcome. We present here the first case report of a significant commissural leak after a MitraClip procedure treated with a GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder device (WL Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ). Case report An 81-year-old male presented with symptomatic recurrent MR following a MitraClip procedure using two clips. After adding another clip, there was still a residual jet medially. We plugged the gap using 12-mm AMPLATZER Muscular VSD Occluder device (St. Jude Medical, Minneapolis, MN). MR was reduced but hemolysis occurred. We retrieved the VSD Occluder device to improve hemolysis, but the MR jet worsened to severe, so we placed a 30-mm GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder device. The device was stable, the MR jet was reduced dramatically, and hemolysis was not observed. Materials of these devices are mesh fabric made from nitinol and polyester in a VSD Occluder device and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene in GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder device. The difference between device materials affects flow pattern of residual jet and hemolysis. In conclusion, the patient's risk for hemolysis is potentially affected by the occluder or plug material. GORE CARDIOFORM is a feasible choice to reduce the risk of hemolysis in a selected patient.
Intergenerational sharing of health data among family members

An explosion of affordable commercial wearable sensing devices and mobile health applications has opened up new possibilities to practice self-tracking and enjoy its benefits. However, elders often do not engage with health tracking technologies because they do not see much benefits. Leveraging the inherent reciprocal relationship among family members is one potential approach to promote the practice of health tracking. In this paper, we aim to understand and support intergenerational sharing of health data as a collective and collaborative family project of mutual support. Based on interviews and scenario-based focus group discussions, we report on family members' understanding of one another's health and well-being, their current health-related practices, and issues around health management as a means to facilitate intergenerational health collaboration.
Modeling Risk Aversion in Economics

To capture the risk-aversion intuition, the standard approach in economics has been to utilize the model of expected utility, in which risk aversion derives from diminishing marginal utility for wealth (or diminishing marginal utility for aggregate consumption). The expected utility model for risk aversion has been used to derive many important insights. But over the years, economists and psychologists have identified various problematic issues with expected utility as a descriptive model of choice. In this article, we urge economists to take seriously the research agenda of developing and assessing different ways to model risk aversion. We proceed in three main steps. First, we highlight that the basic intuition of risk aversion that drives many results in economics is not intimately tied to expected utility. Second, we describe a few alternative models that can also capture the basic intuition of risk aversion. Finally, we discuss that, while expected utility and the alternative models might all capture the basic intuition of risk aversion, the alternative models can generate additional, more nuanced implications not shared with expected utility, that in some cases seem to be borne out by data. We emphasize that these alternative models also are not perfect, and further research is needed to identify even better approaches.
Inheritance of long grain rice amylograph viscosity characteristics

Southern United States long grain rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a unique market type characterized by intermediate amylose content, gelatinization temperature, and amylograph viscosity profile characteristics. Rice breeders sometimes use long grain germplasm with differing amylograph viscosity profiles. The inheritance of rice amylograph viscosity profiles has not been ascertained and, thus, was the objective of this study. A six parent diallel (parents plus F1 hybrids) was evaluated at Stuttgart, AR during 1994 and 1995. In 1994, 65 F2 plants from the ‘L-202’ × ‘Newrex’ and L-202 × ‘Katy’ crosses were space planted, and in 1995, the 65 F2:3 lines were planted as hill plots. The inheritance of amylograph viscosity profiles appeared to be controlled by a single locus with genes with additive effects. The results of the diallel analysis also support control by a single locus with genes with additive effects because GCA effects were significant and SCA effects nonsignificant for peak, hot paste, and cool paste viscosities. Intermediate amylose content and intermediate amylograph viscosity profiles were strongly correlated. Selection first for intermediate amylose content followed by reselection for intermediate hot paste viscosities would identify long grain genotypes with southern United States long grain cooking quality in progeny from crosses between southern United States long grain rice genotypes and softer cooking long grain genotypes.
Self-Organization of Fluids in a Multienzymatic Pump System

The nascent field of microscale flow chemistry focuses on harnessing flowing fluids to optimize chemical reactions in microchambers and establish new routes for chemical synthesis. With enzymes and...
Noncanonical Inhibition of mTORC1 by Coxiella burnetii Promotes Replication within a Phagolysosome-Like Vacuole.

ABSTRACT The Q fever agent Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative bacterium that invades macrophages and replicates inside a specialized lysosomal vacuole. The pathogen employs a type 4B secretion system (T4BSS) to deliver effector proteins into the host cell that modify the Coxiella-containing vacuole (CCV) into a replication-permissive niche. Mature CCVs are massive degradative organelles that acquire lysosomal proteins. Inhibition of mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) kinase by nutrient deprivation promotes autophagy and lysosome fusion, as well as activation of the transcription factors TFE3 and TFEB (TFE3/B), which upregulates expression of lysosomal genes. Here, we report that C. burnetii inhibits mTORC1 as evidenced by impaired localization of mTORC1 to endolysosomal membranes and decreased phosphorylation of elF4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and S6 kinase 1 in infected cells. Infected cells exhibit increased amounts of autophagy-related proteins protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) and p62 as well as of activated TFE3. However, C. burnetii did not accelerate autophagy or block autophagic flux triggered by cell starvation. Activation of autophagy or transcription by TFE3/B increased CCV expansion without enhancing bacterial replication. By contrast, knockdown of tuberous sclerosis complex 1 (TSC1) or TSC2, which hyperactivates mTORC1, impaired CCV expansion and bacterial replication. Together, these data demonstrate that specific inhibition of mTORC1 by C. burnetii, but not amplified cell catabolism via autophagy, is required for optimal pathogen replication. These data reveal a complex interplay between lysosomal function and host cell metabolism that regulates C. burnetii intracellular growth. IMPORTANCECoxiella burnetii is an intracellular pathogenic bacterium that replicates within a lysosomal vacuole. Biogenesis of the Coxiella-containing vacuole (CCV) requires effector proteins delivered into the host cell cytosol by the type 4B secretion system (T4BSS). Modifications to lysosomal physiology required for pathogen replication within the CCV are poorly understood. Mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master kinase that regulates lysosome structure and function. Nutrient deprivation inhibits mTORC1, which promotes cell catabolism in the form of accelerated autophagy and increased lysosome biosynthesis. Here, we report that C. burnetii growth is enhanced by T4BSS-dependent inhibition of mTORC1 that does not activate autophagy. Canonical inhibition of mTORC1 by starvation or inhibitor treatment that induces autophagic flux does not benefit C. burnetii growth. Furthermore, hyperactivation of mTORC1 impairs bacterial replication. These findings indicate that C. burnetii inhibition of mTORC1 without accelerated autophagy promotes bacterial growth.
What Is Anxiety

Abstract This chapter considers the meaning of anxiety and the ways in which it is distinct from anxiety disorders. Anxiety is a universal experience which may be an appropriate response to a range of situations. By contrast, anxiety disorders are a broad range of common psychiatric disorders, and differ from each other chiefly in the focus of the anxiety. To further define this contrast, we consider issues such as the continuum from normal to pathology, evolutionary perspectives on anxiety, and a biopsychosocial perspective. We then argue as to the centrality of the question “what is anxiety?” to clinical practice—for example, in guiding the identification of a true excess fear response from the myriad clinical problems which patients and families may describe as anxiety. The theoretical issues discussed are applied in an illustrative case.
The Role of the USA Food and Drug Administration in Clinical Research

The USFDA is an agency of the US Department of Health and Human Services and is the nation’s oldest consumer protection agency whose function it is to review drugs before marketing, monitor marketed drugs, monitor drug manufacturing and advertising, protect drug quality, and to conduct applied research. It is charged with overseeing of not only human drugs and biologics, but also veterinary drugs, foods, medical devices, and radiopharmaceuticals, and as such serves as a watchdog over industry. This chapter discusses the historical development of the FDA, and what the FDA is today. The phases of research development (phase 0 through phase 5) leading to the marketing of a new drug, the role of the FDA in surgical interventions and medical device approval, and the FDA’s role in advertising and adverse event reporting are discussed.
[(MeCN) 3 Co(C 2 F 5 ) 3 ]: A Versatile Precursorto Cobalt(III) Perfluoroethyl Complexes

The air-stable [fac-(MeCN)3Co(C2F5)3] (1) was prepared through the reaction of cobalt(II) bromide with [Me3Si-C2F5] and AgF. Upon reaction of 1 with wet pyridine, the unexpected product [fac-(H2O)3...
How Might AI and Chest Imaging Help Unravel COVID-19's Mysteries?

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to expand the role of chest imaging in COVID-19 beyond diagnosis to enable risk stratification, treatment monitoring, and discovery of novel therapeut...
The effect of hotel lobby design on booking intentions: An intergenerational examination

Abstract This paper aims to understand what elements of the hotel lobby design influence guest booking intentions. Lobbies are the first point of face-to-face communication between guests and staff upon arrival, impacting the initial guest perception of the property as well as playing an essential role in creating first impressions. Building on the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework, the study investigates preferences of millennial and non-millennial travelers towards hotel lobby design concerning style (contemporary vs. traditional) and biophilic elements (present vs. absent). This quantitative study is designed as an online, virtual, scenario-based experiment. The hypotheses were tested using MANOVA, ANOVA, and linear regression. The findings of the study reveal that the lobby interior design style has a significant impact on booking intention across different generations. Moreover, millennials are more impacted by the design style of the hotel lobby than non-millennials. Biophilic design has also been found to impact the satisfaction and emotions of guests across different generations.
Simultaneous Diagonalization and SVD of Commuting Matrices

We present a matrix version of a known method of constructing common eigenvectors of two diagonalizable commuting matrices, thus enabling their simultaneous diagonalization. The matrices may have simple eigenvalues of multiplicity greater than one. The singular value decomposition (SVD) of a class of commuting matrices also is treated. The effect of row/column permutation is examined. Examples are given.
Bioaugmenting the poplar rhizosphere to enhance treatment of 1,4-dioxane.

Abstract 1,4-Dioxane is a highly mobile and persistent groundwater pollutant that often forms large dilute plumes. Because of this, utilizing aggressive pump-and-treat and ex-situ technologies such as advanced oxidation can be prohibitively expensive. In this study, we bioaugmented the poplar rhizosphere with dioxane-degrading bacteria Mycobacterium dioxanotrophicus PH-06 or Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190 to enhance treatment of 1,4-dioxane in bench-scale experiments. All treatments tested removed 10 mg/L dioxane to near health advisory levels (
No SARS-CoV-2 cross-neutralization by intravenous immunoglobulins produced from plasma collected before the 2020 pandemic

Abstract The 2020 SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is caused by a zoonotic coronavirus transmitted to humans, similar to earlier events. Whether the other, seasonally circulating coronaviruses induce cross-reactive, potentially even cross-neutralizing antibodies to the new species in humans is unclear. The question is of particular relevance for people with immune deficiencies, as their health depends on treatment with immunoglobulin preparations that need to contain neutralizing antibodies against the pathogens in their environment. Testing 54 IVIG preparations, produced from plasma collected in Europe and the US, highly potent neutralization of a seasonal coronavirus was confirmed, yet no cross-neutralization of the new SARS-CoV-2 was seen. SUMMARY IVIG products manufactured from pre-pandemic plasma do not neutralize SARS-CoV-2 but contain high neutralizing titers for seasonal coronavirus hCoV-229E.
Advertising and Peer Influences on Teen and Young Adolescent Alcohol Consumption Decisions: A Theory-of-Reasoned-Action Approach

This paper uses the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) to develop a model predicting influences on adolescents’ alcohol consumption behavior. Specifically, we examine the variables of attitudes toward...
Complex Upper Tract Reconstruction

Since its introduction in 2000, robotic surgical technology has redefined minimally invasive surgery, and in more recent years has increasingly influenced how pediatric urologists approach complex upper tract reconstructive procedures. The robotic platform provides greater dexterity for intracorporeal suturing, along with superb access to and visualization of the kidney and ureter, thus offering advantages over traditional laparoscopy in complex cases such as ureterocalicostomy or renal ectopia. In comparison to open surgery, robotic surgery has been associated with reduced morbidity, decreased postoperative pain, lower analgesic requirements, quicker postoperative recovery, and shorter length of hospital stay.
Guiding tissue-scale self-organization.

A bioprinting approach that utilizes organoid-forming stem cells as a living ink within hydrogels guides tissue-scale self-organization to generate more realistic gastrointestinal and vascular tissue constructs.
Contribution of Inhibitory Metabolites and Competition for Nutrients to Colonization Resistance against Clostridioides difficile by Commensal Clostridium .

Clostridioides difficile is an anaerobic pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding the mechanisms of colonization resistance against C. difficile is important for elucidating the mechanisms by which C. difficile is able to colonize the gut after antibiotics. Commensal Clostridium play a key role in colonization resistance. They are able to modify bile acids which alter the C. difficile life cycle. Commensal Clostridium also produce other inhibitory metabolites including antimicrobials and short chain fatty acids. They also compete with C. difficile for vital nutrients such as proline. Understanding the mechanistic effects that these metabolites have on C. difficile and other gut pathogens is important for the development of new therapeutics against C. difficile infection (CDI), which are urgently needed.
Is it worth to hold bitcoin

Abstract This study examines if holding Bitcoin provides any benefit other than potential price appreciation. An estimation using the convenience yield term in the Cost-of-Carry model shows that the Bitcoin spot contract has a 5.4% premium compared to the futures contract, indicating a holding benefit. Short-selling restrictions in Bitcoin spot markets and voting rights are the sources of the premium. The short-selling restrictions make spot prices be downward sticky. The value of voting rights becomes more observable whenever a ballot is likely. When an important proposal is made to the Bitcoin network, the holding benefit increases by an additional 5.6%.
RF discharge diagnostics: Some problems and their resolution

In this paper, we discuss a number of problems found in the literature related to experimental measurements of rf discharge electrical and plasma parameters with different electromagnetic probes. Incorrect evaluations of discharge power and the inaccurate measurement of basic plasma parameters with electrical (Langmuir), magnetic (B-dot), and microwave probes are among the troubling issues found in many recent publications on rf plasma. The purpose of this review is to show the origination of errors and ways to their mitigation based on the three-decade development of contemporary rf discharge diagnostics.
CX-DIFF: A Change Detection Algorithm for XML Content and Change Presentation Issues for WebVigiL

The exponential increase of information on the web has affected the manner in which the information is accessed, disseminated and delivered. The emphasis has shifted from mere viewing of information to efficient retrieval and monitoring of selective changes to information content. Hence, an effective monitoring system for change detection and notification based on user-profile is needed. WebVigiL is a general-purpose, active capability-based information monitoring and notification system, which handles specification, management, and propagation of customized changes as requested by a user. The emphasis of change detection in WebVigiL is to detect customized changes on the content of the document, based on user intent. As XML is an ordered semi-structured language, detecting customized changes to part of the value of the text nodes and even portion of the content spanning multiple text nodes of an ordered XML tree is difficult. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to handle customized change detection to content of XML documents based on user-intent. An optimization to the algorithm is presented that has a better performance for XML pages with certain characteristics. We also discuss various change presentation schemes to display the changes computed. We highlight the change detection in the context of WebVigiL and briefly describe the rest of the system.
A polylogarithmic PRG for degree 2 threshold functions in the gaussian setting

We construct and analyze a new pseudorandom generator for degree 2 polynomial threshold functions with respect to the Gaussian measure. In particular, we obtain one whose seed length is polylogarithmic in both the dimension and the desired error, a substantial improvement over existing constructions.Our generator is obtained as an appropriate weighted average of pseudorandom generators against read once branching programs. The analysis requires a number of ideas including a hybrid argument and a structural result that allows us to treat our degree 2 threshold function as a function of a number of linear polynomials and one approximately linear polynomial.
UML Diagram for Design Patterns

UML has been used widely as a design and analysis tool for object-oriented software projects. Despite of having a good number of diagram categories, UML is still lacking of a dedicated set of diagrams for representing design patterns. While numerous works have been published on attempts to describe design patterns in terms of UML features, there is hardly any work has been done on attempts to un-clutter class diagrams at the initial development stage so that the design patterns in used can be seen clearly. With the aim to tidy-up huge networks of interconnecting class diagrams, this paper proposes a new higher level set of diagrams and layout schemes to better highlight the design patterns used in a software architecture. This proposal can go further as a proposal for a new set of diagram in UML standard.
Vanadate activation of bromoperoxidase from Corallina officinalis

A nonheme bromoperoxidase has been purified to homogeneity from the red seaweed Corallina officinalis. Like the corresponding enzyme previously reported from C. pilulifera, this bromoperoxidase contains a significant amount of nonheme iron. However, it is vanadate ion and not iron that activates the enzyme, and maximal activity is achieved with stoichiometric vanadium incorporation. The absence of competition between vanadium and iron suggests that they occupy distinct binding sites in the protein. A correlation between vanadium content and catalytic activity indicates that less than 12 percent of the maximal activity of the enzyme can be derived from metals other than vanadium.
The Future of the Foreign Commerce Clause

The Foreign Commerce Clause has been lost, subsumed by its interstate cousin, and overshadowed in foreign relations by the treaty power. Consistent with its original purpose and the implied, but unrefined view asserted by the judiciary, this Article articulates a broader and deeper Foreign Commerce power than is popularly understood. It reframes doctrinal considerations for a reinvigorated Foreign Commerce Clause— both as an independent power and in alliance with other coordinate foreign affairs powers—and demonstrates that increasing global complexity and interdependence makes broad and deep federal authority under this power crucial to effective and efficient action in matters of national concern.
A Free-flying Power Plant for a Manned Space Station

The 0.1 Hz fundamental structural frequency anticipated for the large solar array panels required to power manned space stations is close to the attitude control system bandwidth, and within the bandwidth of crew motion disturbances. Attention is presently given to a detachment of the solar panel system to create a free-flying powerplant for the space station, and to the control system that will maintain its attitude and position relative to the space station by means of thrusters that are supplied with space station state data by a laser/optical sensor system. Power transmission alternatives for this free-flying power system are discussed.
Quest for transcendence

L'A. insiste sur deux developpements lui semblant centraux pour toute personne interessee par la quete de la transcendance : l'experience et le fait que pour beaucoup de philosophes et de theologiens, la transcendance n'est pas un etat supernaturel car elle est a trouver au sein de notre experience du monde et de notre experience temporelle et historique. L'A. explore brievement plusieurs dimensions de l'experience humaine du transcendental. Par dimensions transcandentales de l'experience, il entend les experiences de l'ultime qui repousse les limites.
A Local Algorithm for Finding Well-Connected Clusters

Motivated by applications of large-scale graph clustering, we study random-walk-based local algorithms whose running times depend only on the size of the output cluster, rather than the entire graph. In particular, we develop a method with better theoretical guarantee compared to all previous work, both in terms of the clustering accuracy and the conductance of the output set. We also prove that our analysis is tight, and perform empirical evaluation to support our theory on both synthetic and real data. More specifically, our method outperforms prior work when the cluster is well-connected. In fact, the better it is well-connected inside, the more significant improvement we can obtain. Our results shed light on why in practice some random-walk-based algorithms perform better than its previous theory, and help guide future research about local clustering.
Streaming flow analyses for prefetching in segment-based proxy caching to improve delivery quality

Segment-based proxy caching schemes have been effectively used to deliver streaming media objects. However, this approach does not always guarantee continuous delivery because the to-be-viewed segments may not be cached in the proxy in time. The potential consequence is the playback jitter at the client side due to the proxy delay in fetching these uncached segments, thus we call the problem proxy jitter. Aiming at improving the media delivery quality for segment-based caching schemes, in this paper we propose two simple and effective prefetching methods, namely, look-ahead window based prefetching and active prefetching to address the problem of proxy jitter. We focus on presenting streaming flow analyses on proxy and network resource utilizations and consumptions, performance potentials and limits of the two prefetching methods for different segment-based schemes under different network bandwidth conditions. Our study also provides some new insights into relationships between proxy caching performance and the quality of streaming. For example, we show that the objective of improving the byte hit ratio in a conventional proxy and the unique objective of minimizing the proxy jitter to deliver streaming media objects can have conflicting interests. Trace-driven simulations show the effectiveness of our prefetching methods, and further confirm our analyses.
Twisted Generalized Weyl Algebras and Primitive Quotients of Enveloping Algebras

To each multiquiver Γ we attach a solution to the consistency equations associated to twisted generalized Weyl (TGW) algebras. This generalizes several previously obtained solutions in the literature. We show that the corresponding algebras \(\mathcal {A}({\Gamma })\) carry a canonical representation by differential operators and that \(\mathcal {A}({\Gamma })\) is universal among all TGW algebras with such a representation. We also find explicit conditions in terms of Γ for when this representation is faithful or locally surjective. By forgetting some of the structure of Γ one obtains a Dynkin diagram, D(Γ). We show that the generalized Cartan matrix of \(\mathcal {A}({\Gamma })\) coincides with the one corresponding to D(Γ) and that \(\mathcal {A}({\Gamma })\) contains graded homomorphic images of the enveloping algebra of the positive and negative part of the corresponding Kac-Moody algebra. Finally, we show that a primitive quotient U/J of the enveloping algebra of a finite-dimensional simple Lie algebra over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero is graded isomorphic to a TGW algebra if and only if J is the annihilator of a completely pointed (multiplicity-free) simple weight module. The infinite-dimensional primitive quotients in types A and C are closely related to \(\mathcal {A}({\Gamma })\) for specific Γ. We also prove one result in the affine case.