cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary Function and Respiratory Chemosensitivity in Moderately Obese Patients with Sleep Apnea

To determine whether moderately obese, normocapnic, sleep apnea patients are distinguished from normal obese individuals by differences in waking pulmonary function and respiratory chemosensitivity, we compared the waking pulmonary function, hypercapnic, and hypoxic ventilatory responses of 35 nonhypercapnic sleep apnea patients (32 men and 3 women) with those of 17 age-, sex-, weight-, and obesity-matched nonapneic control subjects (16 men and 1 woman). The waking ventilatory response to hypercapnia was lower among sleep apnea patients (mean ± SD, 2.05 ± 1.29 L/min/mm Hg) than control subjects (3.02 ± 2.05 L/min/mm Hg, p 2 (40.4 ± 2.9 vs 37.0 ± 2.7 mm Hg, p 2 (81.4 ± 11.7 vs 89.7 ± 10.4 mm Hg, p 2 , and lower total lung capacity in the sleep apnea patients resemble the pattern observed in patients with pickwickian syndrome. This suggests that disturbances in pulmonary function and ventilatory control in moderately obese sleep apnea patients are intermediate along a continuum from normal obesity to the pickwickian syndrome.
Genomic dissection of the cytokine-controlled STAT5 signaling network in liver

Growth hormone (GH) controls the physiology and pathophysiology of the liver, and its signals are conducted by two members of the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription, STAT5A and STAT5B. Mice in which the Stat5a/b locus has been inactivated specifically in hepatocytes display GH resistance, the sex-specific expression of genes associated with liver metabolism and the cytochrome P-450 system is lost, and they develop hepatosteatosis. Several groups have shown by global gene expression profiling that a cadre of STAT5A/B target genes identify genetic cascades induced by GH and other cytokines. Evidence is accumulating that in the absence of STAT5A/B GH aberrantly activates STAT1 and STAT3 and their downstream target genes and thereby offers a partial explanation of some of the physiological alterations observed in Stat5a/b-null mice and human patients. We hypothesize that phenotypic changes observed in the absence of STAT5A/B are due to two distinct molecular consequences: first, the failure of STAT5A/B target genes to be activated by GH and second, the rerouting of GH signaling to other members of the STAT family. Rerouting of GH signaling to STAT1 and STAT3 might partially compensate for the loss of STAT5A/B, but it certainly activates biological programs distinct from STAT5A/B. Here we discuss the extent to which studies on global gene expression profiling have fostered a better understanding of the biology behind cytokine-STAT5A/B networks in hepatocytes. We also explore whether this wealth of information on gene activity can be used to further understand the roles of cytokines in liver disease.
Lessons Learned from Comprehensive Deployments of Multiagent CSCL Applications I-MINDS and ClassroomWiki

Recent years have seen a surge in the use of intelligent computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) tools for improving student learning in traditional classrooms. However, adopting such a CSCL tool in a classroom still requires the teacher to develop (or decide on which to adopt) the CSCL tool and the CSCL script, design the relevant pedagogical aspects (i.e., the learning objectives, assessment method, etc.) to overcome the associated challenges (e.g., free riding, student assessment, forming student groups that improve student learning, etc). We have used a multiagent-based system to develop a CSCL application and multiagent-frameworks to form student groups that improve student collaborative learning. In this paper, we describe the contexts of our three generations of CSCL applications (i.e., I-MINDS and ClassroomWiki) and provide a set of lessons learned from our deployments in terms of the script, tool, and pedagogical aspects of using CSCL. We believe that our lessons would allow 1) the instructors and students to use intelligent CSCL applications more effectively and efficiently, and help to improve the design of such systems, and 2) the researchers to gain additional insights into the impact of collaborative learning theories when they are applied to real-world classrooms.
Wireless Power Transmission to a Buried Sensor in Concrete

The feasibility of sending wireless power to a buried sensor antenna within concrete was studied. A receive patch rectenna with 75.8% conversion efficiency was designed for operation at 5.7 GHz. The received DC power at the rectenna was measured within dry and wet concrete samples with various cover thicknesses and air-gaps. For the rectenna buried within 30 mm of the concrete, the received DC power was 10.37 mW, which was about 70% of the received DC power in free-space.
Molar absorptivity and A1cm1% values for proteins at selected wavelengths of the ultraviolet and visible regions. XII

Abstract This paper is the ninth in a series devoted to the compilation of molar absorptivity and A 1cm 1% values for proteins in the ultraviolet and visible regions ( 1 , see also 2 and 3 ) 1 . The data have not been edited. The validity and reliability of the values are left to the judgment of user.
Wenckebach-Second-Degree Heart Block and the Company It Keeps.

Aman inhis70swithhypertension, coronaryarterydisease (CAD), and right coronary (RCA) stent placement 2 months prior for unstable anginapresented to theemergencydepartment after anepisodeofpresyncope, a senseof chest tightness, andpalpitations.He had a history of left bundle branch block (LBBB) on electrocardiography (ECG). His medications included carvedilol, aspirin, clopidogrel, and lovastatin. In theemergencydepartment, his ECGshowed first-degreeheart block andLBBB, and telemetry showedatrioventricular (AV)Wenckebach (ie, Mobitz type 1) heart block (Figure 1). Periods of 2:1 AV block were also captured (Figure 2). A subsequent echocardiogram showed left ventricular hypertrophy but was otherwise normal. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated the recent RCA stent and a chronic left anterior descending (LAD) stent to be patent. Without an ischemic etiology for his symptoms, and noting his cardiac conduction disease, the emergency department referred the patient for electrophysiology study (EPS) (Figure 3). Questions:Where is the lesion in this patient’s conduction system? Should a pacemaker be considered in this patient?
High Yield in the Short Term: Planning Strategically to Get Women into your Major (Abstract Only)

Most academic departments have outreach efforts to inform potential students and the public about their computing majors. Most participate in events and produce materials to communicate with students, teachers, parents, and employers. Often, however, these recruiting efforts are attended in an opportunistic way rather than strategically. Often, little thought is given to the return on investment of this nontrivial use of scarce resources (money, time), the message conveyed to the particular audience, or to tracking outcomes. In this workshop, participants will develop an actionable plan for increasing the enrollment of qualified women into their undergraduate majors. The workshop philosophy is that departments should accomplish the greatest return on investment, in the shortest time to bring benefits, with the smallest resource commitment. After all, recruiting women is rarely one's "day job." Using research-based materials developed by the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) and ideas shared by NCWIT's Academic Alliance members, the presenters will provide information, a planning structure, resources, and activities to support participants in developing a strategic plan to improve the gender diversity of their undergraduate majors.
The Characterization of the Propulsive Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide

Interest in Rocket Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (RGHP) has been renewed in recent years by the search for a non-toxic alternative to rocket propellents currently in use. Innovations have increased the efficiency of the utilization of energy obtained from the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. Concentrations of RGHP in excess of 98% can be heterogeneously decomposed with the use of various catalytic-impregnated ceramic substrates. The data acquisition and control system, which have been designed to characterize each catalyst system, are outlined. Recent results obtained with the use of these systems and are also included.
Relationships between Walking, Body Mass Index, and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adults: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012) (Korean J Obes 2015;24:108-15)

Relationships between Walking, Body Mass Index, and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome among Korean Adults: Data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012) (Korean J Obes 2015;24:108-15) Dong-Il Kim* Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
Biomedical applications of magneto-plasmonic nanoclusters(Conference Presentation)

Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of nanotechnology is the ability to create multimodal and multifunctional nanostructures that can open new venues in solving challenging biomedical problems. Here, we present multimodal magneto-plasmonic nanoparticles (MPNs) with a strong red-NIR absorbance, superparamagnetic properties and a high magnetic moment in an external magnetic field. Our design is based on self-assembly of 6 nm primary particles which consist of 5 nm diameter iron-oxide cores coated with a very thin ca. 0.5 nm gold shell. The assembly results in spherical highly uniform MPNs. We developed antibody targeted MPNs to address two highly challenging applications: (i) development of real-time assays for capture, enumeration and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and (ii) enhancement of adoptive cell immunotherapy (ACT). Our results showed that MPNs can be used for simultaneous magnetic capture and photoacoustic (PA) detection of cancer cells in whole blood with no laborious processing steps. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MPNs conjugated with anti-CD8 antibodies, which are specific for cytotoxic T cells used in ATC, label CD8+ T cells with high specificity ex vivo and in vivo. Labeled T cells can be easily manipulated by a small magnet in suspension and under flow conditions. In addition, MPNs generate high contrast in MRI and PA imaging with the potential to detect just few cells per imaging voxel. These results show that immunotargeted MPNs can be explored for simultaneous visualization and magnetic guidance of T cell subsets in vivo for cancer treatment.
Hypotonic cell volume regulation in mouse medullary thick ascending limb: effects of ADH.

Differential interference contrast microscopy was used in combination with standard electrophysiological techniques in the in vitro perfused mouse medullary thick ascending limb of Henle's loop (MA...
Recurrent or Persistent Urinary Incontinence in Patients with the Artificial Urinary Sphincter: Diagnostic Considerations and Management

AbstractClinical experience in the selection of patients for implantation of the artificial urinary sphincter and the surgical techniques for sphincter implantation indicate a need to provide suitable guidelines for patient followup and the management of post-implantation urinary incontinence. Two types of post-implantation incontinence are recognized: 1) immediate post-activation incontinence and 2) delayed or recurrent incontinence. The potential causes, and the diagnostic and management techniques are dependent on not only an understanding of device function but also on the use of already available clinical tools. Physical examination, inflate-deflate roentgenograms of the device, cystoscopy and retrograde urethrography each has an important role in determining the cause and, therefore, the appropriate remedy for the restoration of urinary control. Causes that result in loss of urinary control after implantation include improper operation of the device by the patient, detrusor hyperreflexia, occlusive ...
A Framework for Revitalizing Mature Brands

Managers of mature or established brands have received little guidance regarding the strategic and tactical decisions they must make to keep their brands healthy. By focusing on how existing consumers perceive, choose, and use brands, this paper suggests how managers can generate and prioritize strategic and tactical opportunities for revitalizing their brands. Specific recommendations and case studies are presented as to how these strategies can be successfully implemented by brands with different market shares and different levels of resources.
Medicine, Science and Merck: On-the-Job Training

By 1984, Diana and I knew exactly what we wanted my next job to be. We just didn't know where it would be. After acquiring some new responsibilities outside the laboratories during the last few years at Merck, I'd become intrigued by what made the company tick. And what might make it tick even better. Those experiences with on-the-job training whetted my appetite for an executive role somewhere. Neither my education nor my experiences before Merck had prepared me to become a “suit,” but that's what we decided my next job would be. Fortunately, Diana and I were practiced at surviving these transitions together. In a sense, we repeatedly relived the NIH years, when I'd started with a textbook and launched my explorations in biochemistry and enzymology. I'd started at square one, with all its attendant doubts and insecurities. About ten years later, we made a less drastic turn into a university career. Add nine more years and we were headed to the Merck Research Laboratories to immerse ourselves in drug discovery in an unfamiliar corporate setting. Each time there'd been a few big problems and thousands of little problems for both of us to solve. As I survey that trajectory, it seems evident that at each shift in direction we were captivated by the complexity of the problems and spurred by the results we hoped to achieve – results that would make a difference to a large number of people.
Outpatient Care of the Ventilator Dependent Child

Invasive mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy and noninvasive ventilator support have become increasingly utilized treatment options for pediatric patients with a wide variety of diagnoses. This is due to multiple factors including advancements in available technology, improved access to technology and medical care, increased clinical expertise, and a paradigm shift in patients, caregivers, and physicians’ attitudes towards quality of life and long-term care. Children who depend on chronic ventilator support are a medically complex and diverse group with high morbidity and mortality. The increased risk for severe illness and death in this group of patients is related both to progression of underlying conditions and to complications related to comorbid conditions or the presence of a tracheostomy (e.g., tracheal plugging or bleeding) [1–3]. Despite the complex healthcare needs of children who rely on chronic ventilator support, there are few guidelines and little published evidence available to guide the clinicians who care for these patients in the outpatient setting. The objective of this chapter is to review aspects of outpatient management that should be considered in all patients requiring ventilator support. While the indications for and methods used to provide respiratory support vary widely, there are many common themes in the outpatient care of these children.
A Rare Angiosarcomatous Transformation in a Primary Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Case Study

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most frequent mesenchymal tumor of the digestive tract, with 2/3 of cases occurring in the stomach. We report a case of GIST with rare angiosarcomatous transformation in a 59-year man who presented with a 50 lb unintended weight loss. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy demonstrated a 5 cm ulcerated mass in the body of the stomach. Morphologic diagnosis of high-grade …
Core capacity region of energy-limited wireless ad hoc networks

We define the core capacity region of energy-limited wireless ad hoc networks and show that it is non-empty under the linear utility model. The main motivation for this paper is the question: "Can wireless ad hoc networks grow into a single grand wireless network in the future?" We answer this question by developing a framework in which we incorporate the incentives of users into the definition of network capacity.
YouTube and the single-rod contraceptive implant: a content analysis

Background Since the internet has become an important source of contraceptive information with YouTube.com as the second most visited site, we analysed contraceptive implant YouTube videos for content and clinical accuracy. Methods Using the terms ‘contraceptive implant’, ‘Nexplanon’ and ‘Implanon’, the top 20 results on YouTube by relevance and view count were identified. After excluding duplicates, single-rod implant videos in English were included. Videos were classified as providing a professional or patient perspective. Views, duration and comments were noted. Videos were rated for reliability, global quality scale and whether they were positive or negative about the implant. Inter-rater agreement was measured. Results A total of 120 videos were retrieved; 52 were eligible for review. Less than 23% were professional videos; the majority reported patient experience (46% testimonials, 27% real-time procedure videos, 4% other). Patient videos had been posted a significantly longer duration of time than professional videos (364 vs 188 days, p =0.02), were less reliable ( p ≤0.0001) and were of lower global quality ( p Conclusions This study found that most of the information on YouTube pertaining to contraceptive implants is accurate, is presented from the patient9s perspective, and promotes the method9s use.
How do State Crime Policies Affect Other States? The Externalities of State DNA Database Laws

State and local governments control most criminal justice policy in the United States, without regard for potential effects on other states. Lenient state policies might draw in criminals from other states, whereas harsh state policies might drive criminals away to other states. Alternatively, harsh policies might deter or incapacitate criminals who would otherwise migrate to neighboring states and commit crimes there. Thus the effects of a state’s policies extend beyond its borders, but these effects could be positive or negative. This paper estimates the externalities of DNA databases. I exploit variation in the timing of database expansions as exogenous shocks to the sizes of state databases, to measure the cross-state effect of database size. The federal government seems to think externalities are positive, since it subsidizes state-level database expansions. I find instead that externalities are negative: increasing the number of other-state profiles increases own-state crime, so that approximately 10 percent of DNA databases’ crime-reducing effect is due to states’ displacing crime to other states. Effects are larger for nearby states. This result is consistent with the hypothesis that offenders respond rationally to state policies by moving to places where they are less likely to get caught for their crimes.
Erwin Schrödinger: An Introduction to His Writings

(1968). Erwin Schrodinger: An Introduction to His Writings. Nuclear Science and Engineering: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 361-362.
Celecoxib affects estrogen sulfonation catalyzed by several human hepatic sulfotransferases, but does not stimulate 17-sulfonation in rat liver.

Celecoxib is known to alter the preferred position of SULT2A1-catalyzed sulfonation of 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) and other estrogens from the 3- to the 17-position. Understanding the effects of celecoxib on estrogen sulfonation is of interest in the context of the investigational use of celecoxib to treat breast cancer. This study examined the effects on celecoxib on cytosolic sulfotransferases in human and rat liver and on SULT enzymes known to be expressed in liver. Celecoxib’s effects on the sulfonation of several steroids catalyzed by human liver cytosol were similar but not identical to those observed previously for SULT2A1. Celecoxib was shown to inhibit recombinant SULT1A1-catalyzed sulfonation of 10 nM estrone and 4 μM p-nitrophenol with IC50 values of 2.6 and 2.1 μM, respectively, but did not inhibit SULT1E1-catalyzed estrone sulfonation. In human liver cytosol, the combined effect of celecoxib and known SULT1A1 and 1E1 inhibitors, quercetin and triclosan, resulted in inhibition of 17β-E2-3-sulfonation such that the 17-sulfate became the major metabolite: this is of interest because the 17-sulfate is not readily hydrolyzed by steroid sulfatase to 17β-E2. Investigation of hepatic cytosolic steroid sulfonation in rat revealed that celecoxib did not stimulate 17β-E2 17-sulfonation in male or female rat liver as it does with human SULT2A1 and human liver cytosol, demonstrating that rat is not a useful model of this effect. In silico studies suggested that the presence of the bulky tryptophan residue in the substrate-binding site of the rat SULT2A homolog instead of glycine as in human SULT2A1 may explain this species difference.
The Digital Reader, The Alphabetic Writer, and The Space Between: A Study in Digital Reading and Source-Based Writing

Abstract This qualitative research study explores how students engage with digital texts and use them in source-based writing. The article focuses on two findings. First, students engaged most frequently with strong reading comprehension strategies—engaging in dialogue with the text and using a cursor while reading, yet hardly employed reading strategies specific to digital texts. The relationship between these findings position students developmentally as “beginning” digital readers. Second, the “beginning” digital reader as writer draws on the digital text mostly at the sentence level, and much of the time, at the word level. Research suggests that such engagement may indicate reading and comprehension issues (Howard et al. 2010). Interestingly, the research participants demonstrated sophisticated reading invention work during the think aloud protocols: they seemingly understood what they read and interacted with the text in meaningful ways. However, this verbal invention work did not emerge in their writing. In an effort to understand the disconnect between reading and writing, the writer explores the differences between speech and writing as well as the role of audience and reading strategies in the translation of verbal invention to writing. Pedagogical suggestions and avenues for further research are presented at the end of the article.
Glutaredoxin 1 Deficiency Causes Late-Age Onset Metabolic Disease in Female C57BL/6 Mice, Associated with Monocyte and Macrophage Dysfunction

Glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) reduces mixed disulfides between glutathione and protein thiols thereby controlling thiol-redox regulated cellular functions, including intracellular signaling, migration, angiogenesis, autophagy and apoptosis. Grx1 protects monocytes and macrophages from metabolic-stress-induced “priming’ and dysfunction. Here we report that female but not male Grx1-/- mice on a C57BL/6 background fed a normal chow diet become obese and hyperglycemic by 6 and 8 months of age respectively. At 18 months female Grx1-/- mice developed spontaneous atherosclerosis and late-age onset associated metabolic disease, characterized by mild hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia and obesity. Atherosclerotic lesions in 18 month female Grx1-/- mice, measured by en-face analysis, were localized to both the ascending arch and abdominal aortic regions. In aged female Grx1-/- mice, monocyte priming was also measured in vivo using the Matrigel plug assay and ex vivo in multi-well Boyden chambers using peritoneal macrophages isolated from female Grx1-/- mice and age-matched WT mice. Furthermore, aged Grx1-/- female mice possessed increased numbers of circulating Ly6Chi inflammatory blood monocytes compared to male Grx1-/- and WT mice. Macrophages isolated from female Grx1-/- mice also displayed increased protein-S-glutathionylation, increased expression of pro-inflammatory “M1”-associated genes, increased susceptibility to ketocholesterol-induced apoptosis, and impaired autophagy. Together, these data underscore the critical role of protein-S-glutathionylation in monocyte macrophage dysfunction and the development of atherosclerosis and obesity and identify a protective role for Grx1 in these processes. Monocytic Grx1 and metabolic stress-induced protein-S glutathionylation may therefore represent a new mechanistic link between metabolic disorders and chronic inflammatory diseases.
Jewish Images of God

After briefly describing my epistemological approach to God as a version of soft perspectivism and philosophical realism in which one comes to know God not so much by reasoning about the Eternal but rather by interacting with God in speech and action, I note one central problem of describing God – namely, the danger of limiting God to our descriptions and possibly even becoming idolatrous. I then explore how our images of God gain their meaning, how we can assess the truth or falsity of our images of God, and how images of God gain authority within a religious community like that of the Jews, all in a way that can avoid intellectual and religious idolatry.
Theoretical Aspects of X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

In these notes, we shall review several important aspects of the basic theory necessary for interpreting and understanding experiments based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA). In view of the breadth of material to be covered, only an outline of the various theoretical models will be presented, including discussions of the basic assumptions involved, examples of the agreement obtained between theory and experiment, and statements concerning the remaining unsolved theoretical or experimental problems. At several points, references will be made to inherent similarities and differences between XPS and the closely related ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS). The aim of these notes will thus be to provide a basic background for more specialized study. The bibliography presented here is not intended to be an exhaustive one, but rather to contain the most important review papers, or in some cases, original papers, on a given topic, as well as certain illustrative examples of the use of various theoretical models.
Tunable Laser Systems

In the first decade in the development of lasers, output was achieved from a variety of gain media, but only at discrete wavelengths. Many interesting new experiments became possible; however, applications of lasers to chemical studies were limited to cases in which there was a coincidence between the absorption spectra and laser output. The availability of continuously tunable lasers has had an immediate impact on chemical applications because it has become possible both to select a laser that operates in a desired spectral region and to scan the spectrum. Presently, tunable lasers that are commercially available include dye lasers, which cover the entire visible region, and diode lasers and F-center lasers, which together cover most of the infrared region.
Amino-fulleropyrrolidines as electrotropic additives to enhance organic photovoltaics

The synthesis, device fabrication, and electric poling of novel amino-functionalized fulleropyrrolidines in polymer solar cells is reported. Systematically varying the tether lengths between the fullerene cage and tertiary amines provides insight into enhanced device efficiency and stability after poling. DFT calculations in an external electric field result in alignment of molecular dipole moments, which corroborates our hypothesis that electrotropic polarization causes an increased built-in electrostatic potential difference across the device, and results in enhance performance.
Time-Dependent Intermodal A* Algorithm: Methodology and Implementation on a Large-Scale Network:

This paper proposes a time-dependent intermodal A* (TDIMA*) algorithm. The algorithm works on a multimodal network with transit, walking, and vehicular network links, and finds paths for the three ...
Women’s and Children’s Activity Profiles: A Comparison of Time Allocation and Time Allocation Methods*

Cross-culturally, there is a growing interest in the effect of women’s participation in the wage economy on the quantity and quality of maternal interaction with children and children’s development...
Fake news and alternative facts: information literacy in a post-truth era

This ALA Editions Special Report by Dr. Nicole A. Cooke tackles the challenging topics of fake news and alternative facts with an engaging and informative approach that addresses information behavi...
Privacy Disclosures Detection in Natural-Language Text Through Linguistically-Motivated Artificial Neural Networks

An increasing number of people are sharing information through text messages, emails, and social media without proper privacy checks. In many situations, this could lead to serious privacy threats. This paper presents a methodology for providing extra safety precautions without being intrusive to users. We have developed and evaluated a model to help users take control of their shared information by automatically identifying text (i.e., a sentence or a transcribed utterance) that might contain personal or private disclosures. We apply off-the-shelf natural language processing tools to derive linguistic features such as part-of-speech, syntactic dependencies, and entity relations. From these features, we model and train a multichannel convolutional neural network as a classifier to identify short texts that have personal, private disclosures. We show how our model can notify users if a piece of text discloses personal or private information, and evaluate our approach in a binary classification task with 93% accuracy on our own labeled dataset, and 86% on a dataset of ground truth. Unlike document classification tasks in the area of natural language processing, our framework is developed keeping the sentence level context into consideration.
TruParking: Smart Parking and the Internet of Things

The number of licensed drivers and motor-vehicles has been increasing over the last several decades. This increase in the number of drivers and vehicles implies that there is more traffic on the roads which creates a greater need for more parking. However, the number of parking spaces is not increasing at the rate that traffic is increasing. This is creating a somewhat overlooked issue in the parking sector. People are now on average spending more time and resources driving around searching for a parking space. The time spent searching for parking is causing people to waste time on an action that is unproductive, meaningless, and often frustrating. The wasted time and resources should instead be put towards benefiting the people and their societies. In this paper we propose a solution for parking problems using the Internet of Things (IoT) and data analytics, we call this solution TruParking. TruParking offers a means by which users can reduce the time and resources they waste searching parking lots (or parking garages) for available parking spaces.
Prognostication of inflammatory cells in liver transplantation: Is the waitlist neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio really predictive of tumor biology?

OBJECTIVE The objective of this retrospective study was to characterize the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) on the waitlist and determine its prognostic utility in liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with special focus on longitudinal data. Biomarkers such as pre-operative NLR have been suggested to predict poor oncological outcomes for patients with HCC seeking LT. NLR's utility is thought to be related to tumor biology. However, recent studies have demonstrated that a high NLR conveys worse outcomes in non-HCC cirrhotics. This study investigated the relationship between NLR, liver function, tumor factors and patient prognosis. METHODS Patients with HCC undergoing LT were identified between 2002 and 2014 (n = 422). Variables of interest were collected longitudinally from time of listing until LT. The prognostic utility of NLR was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox Proportional Hazard regression. Associations between NLR and MELD-Na, AFP, and tumor morphology were also assessed. RESULTS NLR demonstrated a positive correlation with MELD-Na at LT (R2 = 0.125, P < 0.001) and had parallel trends over time. The lowest NLR quartile had a median MELD-Na of 9 while the highest had a median MELD-Na of 19. There were minimal differences in AFP, tumor morphology, and rates of vascular invasion between quartiles. NLR was a statistically significant predictor of OS (HR = 1.64, P = 0.017) and recurrence (HR = 1.59, P = 0.016) even after controlling for important tumor factors. However, NLR lost its statistical significance when MELD-Na was added to the Cox regression model (OS: HR = 1.46, P = 0.098) (recurrence: HR = 1.40, P = 0.115). CONCLUSIONS NLR is a highly volatile marker on the waitlist that demonstrates a significant correlation and collinearity with MELD-Na temporally and at the time of LT. These characteristics of NLR bring into question its utility as a predictive marker in HCC patients.
Rural Trauma Team Development Course Instills Confidence in Critical Access Hospitals

The American College of Surgeons’ Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC) was designed to help rural hospitals optimize a team approach to trauma management recognizing the need for early transfer. Little literature exists on the success of RTTDC achieving its objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of RTTDC on rural trauma team members. RTTDC was hosted at seven rural hospitals. A pre-course 30-question Likert survey gauging confidence managing trauma patients was administered to participants. Four weeks following, participants received a post-course survey with corresponding Likert questions and 11 trauma knowledge-based questions. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact tests and general linear models were utilized. Statistical significance is set as p < 0.05. 111 participants completed the pre-course survey; 53 (48%) completed the post-course survey. Results presented on a 5-point Likert scale with 1 = “not at all comfortable” to 5 = “extremely comfortable.” Participants knowing their role in the trauma team improved by 16% (p = 0.02). Familiarity with the roles of other trauma team members was significantly improved (3.4 vs. 4.15; p < 0.01). Participants comfort with resuscitating trauma patients and managing traumatic brain injury significantly improved (3.29 vs. 3.69; p = 0.01 and 2.62 vs. 3.14; p = 0.004, respectively). Comfortability communicating with the regional trauma center improved significantly (3.64 vs. 4.19; p = 0.004). Participant decision to transfer trauma patients within 15 min of arrival improved by 3.2%. Participants answered 82% of the knowledge-based questions correctly. RTTDC instills confidence in providers at rural hospitals. The information taught is well retained, allowing for quality care and timely patient transfer to the nearest trauma center.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

This article provides an introduction to biological magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and its applications in clinical and basic neuroscience. MRS uses electromagnetic signals produced by atomic nuclei to detect and measure the concentrations of the more concentrated neurochemicals in the brain and in nervous system tissue extracts. An introduction to the physics and engineering principles upon which MRS is based is provided. The article presents an introductory exposition of in vitro and in vivo MRS techniques that are typically employed and discusses the types of neurochemicals that can be detected and quantified. Limitations of the technique are also described.
Bad, Wrong, and Evil

The question, “What is evil?” may be an inquiry into what sorts of things are evil or it may be a request to clarify what is meant by the term “evil.” This chapter analyzes the concept of evil, a necessary propaedeutic for identifying and classifying types of evil. Before the analysis of evil is undertaken, the notions of bad and wrongdoing are examined, a necessary step in order to avoid confusion with evil.
Fostering Passion and Skills in Surgical Research Across the Medical Education Continuum: The Transplant Research, Education, and Engagement Group

Objective We describe a multilevel, collaborative research group for trainees and faculty engaging in transplant surgery research within one institution. Design Transplant Research, Education, and Engagement (TREE) was designed to develop trainees’ research skills and foster enthusiasm in transplant surgery along the educational continuum. Our research model intentionally empowers junior researchers, including undergraduates and medical students, to assume active roles on a range of research projects and contribute new ideas within a welcoming research and learning environment. Setting Section of Transplant Surgery, Department of Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Participants Undergraduate premedical students, first through fourth year medical students, general surgery residents, transplant surgery fellows, and transplant surgery faculty. Results TREE was founded in September 2019 and has grown to include over 30 active members who meet weekly and collaborate virtually on a range of research projects, many of which are led by students. Trainees can assume both mentee and mentor roles and build their research, presentation and writing skills while collaborating academically. Conclusions Our model has increased trainees’ engagement in transplant research projects and fosters early enthusiasm for the field. This model can be feasibly replicated at other institutions and within other subspecialties.
Do’ikayt and the Spaces of Politics in An-sky’s Novella In shtrom

In his novella In shtrom (In the Stream), Sh. An-sky depicts the complexities of the 1905 revolution for Jews through representation of the physical spaces of the city, especially the city park tha...
Therapy in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is challenging. Several randomized clinical trials are investigating the efficacy of systemic therapy, immunotherapy, and locoregional therapy as monotherapy or combined with other modalities in the treatment of HCC. Systemic therapy is the preferred treatment in advanced disease. To date, multiple first-line and second-line agents received Food and Drug Administration approval. For over a decade, sorafenib was the only first-line agent. In May 2020, combination of atezolizumab and bevacizumab has been approved as a first-line systemic regimen. Lenvatinib is another first-line agent that has multikinase activity. Second-line agents include cabozantinib, regorafenib, ramucirumab, and nivolumab. Adoptive cell transfer therapy is a highly specific immunotherapy that has shown antitumor activity against HCC. Oncolytic viruses are genetically modified viruses that infect cancer cells and induce apoptosis. Locoregional therapies such as transarterial chemoembolization and radioembolization have shown a potential benefit in selected patients with advanced HCC. In this review, we aim to summarize the treatment options available for advanced HCC.
Some New Bounds for Moment Generating Functions of Various Life Distributions Using Mean Residual Life Functions

In this paper, we present bounds for moment generating functions of certain life distributions, including the decreasing mean residual life class. We also give bounds for some other much larger classes of life distributions. Most bounds are based on the mean residual life functions. These bounds are compared to some other bounds in the literature. The methods used can also find bounds for other functions of the lifetime random variable. Some applications to bounding tail probabilities of lifetime distributions are given.
Engineering an Macroporous Oxygen-Generating Scaffold for Enhancing Islet Cell Transplantation within an Extrahepatic Site

Insufficient oxygenation is a serious issue arising within cell-based implants, as the hypoxic period between implantation and vascularization of the graft is largely unavoidable. In situ oxygen supplementation at the implant site should significantly mitigate hypoxia-induced cell death and dysfunction, as well as improve the transplant efficacy, particularly for highly metabolically active cells such as pancreatic islets. One promising approach is the use of an oxygen generating material created through the encapsulation of calcium peroxide within polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), termed OxySite. In this study, OxySite microbeads were incorporated within a macroporous PDMS scaffold to create a single, streamlined, oxygen generating macroporous scaffold. The resulting OxySite scaffold generated sufficient local oxygenation for up to 20 days, with nontoxic levels of reaction intermediates or by-products. The benefit of local oxygen release on transplant efficacy was investigated in a diabetic Lewis rat syngeneic transplantation model containing clinically relevant islet isolation purities (80%, 90%, and 99%). Transplantation outcomes showed that elevating the oxygen demand of the graft with decreasing isolation purity resulted in decreased graft efficacy for control implants, while the integration of OxySite significantly mitigated this impact and resulted in significantly improved graft outcomes. Results highlight the superior clinical translational potential of these off-the-shelf OxySite scaffolds, where islet purity and the overall oxygen demands of implants are increased and highly variable. The oxygen-generating porous scaffold further provides a broad platform for enhancing the survival and efficacy of cellular implants for numerous other applications.
Utilizing telehealth to create a clinical model of care for patients with Batten disease and other rare diseases

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed the delivery of healthcare across the world. Telehealth has emerged as the primary method for providing healthcare early in the pandemic. Patient and healthcare pr...
Impact of alcohol and drug use on bicycle and electric scooter injuries and hospital admissions in the United States

IntroductionBicycles and electric scooters (e-scooters) are convenient and accessible means of transportation. Participant safety is contingent on available infrastructure and safe riding practices...
Application of the Quadruple Aim to evaluate the operational impact of a telemedicine program.

Background In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine utilization has increased dramatically, yet most institutions lack a standardized approach to determine how much to invest in these programs. Methods We used the Quadruple Aim to evaluate the operational impact of CardioClick, a program replacing in-person follow-up visits with video visits in a preventive cardiology clinic. We examined data for 134 patients enrolled in CardioClick with 181 video follow-up visits and 276 patients enrolled in the clinic's traditional prevention program with 694 in-person follow-up visits. Results Patients in CardioClick and the cohort receiving in-person care were similar in terms of age (43 vs 45 years), gender balance (74% vs 79% male), and baseline clinical characteristics. Video follow-up visits were shorter than in-person visits in terms of clinician time (median 22 vs 30 min) and total clinic time (median 22 vs 68 min). Video visits were more likely to end on time than in-person visits (71 vs 11%, p Conclusions Implementation of video follow-up visits in a preventive cardiology clinic was associated with operational improvements in the areas of efficiency, patient experience, and clinician experience. These benefits in three domains of the Quadruple Aim justify expanded use of telemedicine at our institution. Implications The Quadruple Aim provides a framework to evaluate telemedicine programs recently implemented in many health systems. Level of evidence Level III (retrospective comparative study).
A (Terse) Introduction to Lebesgue Integration

This book provides a student's first encounter with the concepts of measure theory and functional analysis. Its structure and content reflect the belief that difficult concepts should be introduced in their simplest and most concrete forms. Despite the use of the word 'terse' in the title, this text might also have been called ""A (Gentle) Introduction to Lebesgue Integration"". It is terse in the sense that it treats only a subset of those concepts typically found in a substantial graduate-level analysis course. The book emphasizes the motivation of these concepts and attempts to treat them simply and concretely. In particular, little mention is made of general measures other than Lebesgue until the final chapter and attention is limited to R as opposed to Rn. After establishing the primary ideas and results, the text moves on to some applications. Chapter 6 discusses classical real and complex Fourier series for L2 functions on the interval and shows that the Fourier series of an L2 function converges in L2 to that function. Chapter 7 introduces some concepts from measurable dynamics. The Birkhoff ergodic theorem is stated without proof and results on Fourier series from chapter 6 are used to prove that an irrational rotation of the circle is ergodic and that the squaring map on the complex numbers of modulus 1 is ergodic. This book is suitable for an advanced undergraduate course or for the start of a graduate course. The text presupposes that the student has had a standard undergraduate course in real analysis.
Intercomparison of Photochemical Mechanisms using Response Surfaces and Process Analysis

As recommended by Kuhn et al. (1998) a comprehensive mechanism evaluation or intercomparison requires that the mechanisms be evaluated for a large number of VOC and NOx scenarios, and, ideally, for the full response surface. Key difficulties in performing such an evaluation include: the large number of VOC/NOx scenarios to be performed; the large number of species concentrations and reaction rates to be analyzed; and the temporal variability in the evolution of species concentrations. We have demonstrated here modifications to the widely used OZIPR model that facilitate mechanism evaluations. New model outputs are created allowing the PAVE visualization package to be used to perform sophisticated, time-dependent analyses for multiple data sets. In addition, outputs that describes the budgets of HOx, NOy and Ox allows for convenient evaluation of the important component chemical processes. Our example analysis here shows that there are important differences in the CB4.99 and the SAPRC99 mechanisms, particularly in the Ox production efficiency per NOx for NOx-limited conditions and in the HOx budget for radical-limited conditions. It is not possible to conclude which mechanism is more correct, but the model tool demonstrated here will allow mechanism developers to more readily assess the effects of future revisions to these photochemical mechanisms, and to determine which chemical process require better elucidation in future chamber and kinetics experiments.
Daubechies Wavelets Design

Using the example of Daubechies wavelets, this chapter demonstrates how to use the Fourier transform to investigate the existence, the uniqueness, and the design of recursive, mutually orthogonal, compactly supported, and continuous wavelets.