cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Serum Vitamin B-12 Concentrations Are Associated With Faster Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Disease Progression

We conducted a nonconcurrent prospective cohort study to examine associations between serum concentrations of vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 and folate and the risk of progression to first acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) diagnosis and CD4+ cell decline to < 2 x 10(8) cells/L. The study population was drawn from a cohort of homosexual and bisexual men in the Baltimore-Washington, DC, area. Eligible subjects were human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-seropositive at study entry and had serum available in the serum repository from their 1984 baseline study visit. Serum micronutrient levels were assessed in 310 subjects. The follow-up period (April 1984 through December 1993) was approximately 9 y. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, participants with low serum vitamin B-12 concentrations (< 120 pmol/L) had significantly shorter AIDS-free time than those with adequate vitamin B-12 concentrations (median AIDS-free time = 4 vs. 8 y, respectively, P = 0.004). This effect persisted in Cox proportional hazards models after adjusting for HIV-1-related symptoms, CD4+ cell count, age, serum albumin, use of antiretroviral therapy before AIDS, frequency of alcohol consumption and serum folate concentration [relative hazard (RH) = 1.89, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15-3.10). To further explore the temporal relation between low serum vitamin B-12 concentrations and disease progression, additional analyses were performed excluding subjects with more advanced disease at baseline. In these analyses, the increase in risk of progression to AIDS for those with low serum vitamin B-12 concentrations remained significant (RH = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.13-4.34), providing further evidence that low vitamin B-12 concentrations preceded disease progression. In contrast, low serum concentrations of vitamin B-6 and folate were not associated with either progression to AIDS or decline in CD4+ lymphocyte count. Intervention studies are needed to determine whether correction of low serum vitamin B-12 concentrations in early HIV-1 infection will influence the natural history of disease progression.
Effectiveness of screening hospital admissions to detect asymptomatic carriers of Clostridium difficile: a modeling evaluation.

Objective. Both asymptomatic and symptomatic Clostridium difficile carriers contribute to new colonizations and infections within a hospital, but current control strategies focus only on preventing transmission from symptomatic carriers. Our objective was to evaluate the potential effectiveness of methods targeting asymptomatic carriers to control C. difficile colonization and infection (CDI) rates in a hospital ward: screening patients at admission to detect asymptomatic C. difficile carriers and placing positive patients into contact precautions.Methods. We developed an agent-based transmission model for C. difficile that incorporates screening and contact precautions for asymptomatic carriers in a hospital ward. We simulated scenarios that vary according to screening test characteristics, colonization prevalence, and type of strain present at admission.Results. In our baseline scenario, on average, 42% of CDI cases were community-onset cases. Within the hospital-onset (HO) cases, approximately half wer...
Single scattering of gamma radiation from monoenergetic, plane isotropic sources in infinite and semi-infinite media

Abstract Integral representations are given for the energy, angular, and spatial dependence of the flux density of singly scattered gamma radiation arising from a monoenergetic, plane isotropic source imbedded in an infinite medium. The integrals are evaluated in terms of elementary functions for certain special cases, the most important of which is the case of backscattering from a semi-infinite medium.
Design Challenges/Solutions for Environments Supporting the Analysis of Social Media Data in Crisis Informatics Research

Crisis informatics investigates how society's pervasive access to technology is transforming how it responds to mass emergency events. To study this transformation, researchers require access to large sets of data that because of their volume and heterogeneous nature are difficult to collect and analyze. To address this concern, we have designed and implemented an environment -- EPIC Analyze -- that supports researchers with the collection and analysis of social media data. Our research has identified the types of components -- such as NoSQL, MapReduce, caching, and search -- needed to ensure that these services are reliable, scalable, extensible, and efficient. We describe the design challenges encountered -- such as data modeling, time vs. Space tradeoffs, and the need for a useful and usable system -- when building EPIC Analyze and discuss its scalability, performance, and functionality.
Long-term services and supports in the community: Toward a research agenda

Researchers, policy experts, and advocates participating in an invitational conference discussed research needed to address pressing policy issues in long-term services and supports (LTSS). Future research on need for LTSS should focus on projections of need, geographic variations, equity, and unmet needs of consumers and caregivers. Research on access to home- and community-based services (HCBS) should address progress in rebalancing LTSS in favor of HCBS, cost-containment strategies, the shift to managed LTSS, and the performance of managed care organizations. Major gaps in research on LTSS costs and quality center on both comparative costs and cost-effectiveness of HCBS versus institutional programs, cost savings of managed LTSS versus fee-for-service, performance incentives in managed LTSS, and LTSS quality and outcome measurement. Research on workers and caregivers could focus on worker availability, improving job quality, worker training standards, the impact of paying family members to provide LTSS, and the private-pay LTSS workforce.
A comparative, cross-cultural criminal career analysis

For over 30 years, the criminal career paradigm in criminology has raised important theoretical and policy questions as well as research on the ‘dimensions’ of the criminal career (for example, ons...
Trichobezoars Detected and Treated Based on Plain Radiography.

ABSTRACT Bezoars are conglomerations of indigestible material that become trapped in the gastrointestinal tract. We present a case of an 8-year-old female child diagnosed with a gastric bezoar solely on plain radiography and treated with abdominal surgical exploration and removal. In addition, traditional characteristic radiographic findings and treatment options for bezoars found in the current literature are reviewed.
Rapid single-solution polychrome staining of semithin epoxy sections using polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200) as a stain solvent.

Rapid, onestep polychromatic staining of 0.75-1.5 μm epoxy sections of glutaraldehyde-osmium fixed tissues can be obtained with mixtures of basic fucbsin and toluidme blue O in alkaline polyethylene glycol ZOO (PEG ZOO). Sections are attached to slides by heating at 100 C for 45 seconds and stained at that temperature for 2-3 minutes with a solution consisting of PEG 200 (50 ml), 0.2 N KOH (0.75 ml), basic fuchsin (1.7 gm), and toluidine blue O (0.3 gm). Red-blue balance and selective staining of different structures can be controlled by varying the amount of toluidine blue added. After rinsing with 10% acetone and rapid drying, sections are covered with immersion oil or mounting medium and a cover-slip. Total time from cutting of a section to finished preparation is less than 6 minutes. This staining solution is stable, does not produce precipitates on the sections, and does not wrinkle or lift the sections from the slides.
Davanloo’s Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy

Short-term dynamic psychotherapy, or STDP (Davanloo, 1978, 1980), is an intensive form of psychoanalytically based therapy that appears to provide a powerful treatment package for effecting change in severe, long-standing maladaptive behavior. The innovative quality of Davanloo’s approach, however, seems to warrant careful study from a broader and more integrative theoretical perspective than psycho-dynamic theory alone, for STDP appears to incorporate cognitive behavioral maneuvers and principles of learning woven into the fabric of the treatment. Of course, this was not Davanloo’s intent, but in his quest for effective techniques (examining his own videotapes over a 20-year period) he appears to have isolated certain mechanisms that bear resemblance to operant, respondent, and cognitive techniques.
Emerging Asias: Introduction

This focus section explores what it means to think geographically about an emergent Asia. The four articles are based on presentations given at the Presidential Plenary session at the 2013 Association of American Geographers annual meeting in Los Angeles. In this Introduction, I briefly examine the temporalities associated with the term emergent and the spatialities evoked by the label Asia, arguing that mainstream conceptions of emergence, as progress into the light, and territorial conceptions of Asia require critical reflection from the perspective of contemporary geographical thought. These issues are taken up in the subsequent articles, examining when is Asia, the U.S. role in constructing representations of Asia, the Japanese origin of global supply chains, and the question of whether Western urban theory suffices to account for urbanization in China.
Ordered zinc-vacancy induced Zn0.75Ox nanophase structure

Abstract Using transmission electron microscopy, a new nano-phase structure of Zn0.75Ox induced by Zn-vacancy has been discovered to grow on wurtzite ZnO nanobelts. The superstructure grows epitaxial from the { 0 1 ¯ 10 } surface of the wurtzite ZnO nanobelts and can be fitted as an orthorhombic structure, with lattice parameters a′=2a, b ′ ≈ 3 a and c′=c, where a and c are the lattice parameters of ZnO. The superstructured phase is resulted from high-density Zn vacancies orderly distributed in the ZnO matrix. This study provides direct observation about the existence of Zn-vacancies in ZnO.
Heats of formation of aluminum diboride and a-aluminum dodecaboride

The energies of combustion of AlB2 and α-AlB12 were measured in a bomb calorimeter using fluorine as the oxidant. Major problems of this investigation were the assessment of the state and distribution of impurities in the samples and the establishment of the stoichiornetry of the aluminum boride phase. We obtain -16±3 kcal mol-1 and -48±10 kcal mol-1 for the heats of formation of AlB2 and α-AlB12, respectively. The uncertainties cited are the overall experimental errors. Their magnitudes are chiefly due to uncertainties in the impurity correction applied and the uncertainties in the heats of formation of the combustion products.
Correlation of malaria infection with the meteorological factors in Baoshan city from 2005 to 2012

Objective To investigate the orrelation of malaria infection with the meteorological factors in Baoshan cityfrom 2005 to 2012. Methods The data of malaria infection and meteorological data in Boshan city from 2005 to 2012collected and analyzed. Results The total number of malaria cases in Baoshan city from 2005 to 2012 were 13 270 cases. In2005 there were 3 883 cases, accounting for 29.26% of total and 2 575 malaria cases were recorded in May accounting for19.40% of the total. Totally 8 134 cases occurred in Tengchong county accounting for 61.30% of the total cases. There were408 endogenous malaria cases, accounting for 3.07% of the total cases. The meteorological.factors of temperature, humidity,rainfall and sunshine did not show significant differences with malaria incidence in year, month. But significant difference wasnoted between the rainfall and the distribution of endogenous malaria infections in counties. Conclusion The distribution ofendogenous malaria cases in Baoshan city was correlated with average rainfall..
Acquired platelet disorders

In contrast to congenital platelet disorders, which are rare, acquired platelet dysfunctions are more common in clinical practice. Their main causes are medications and systemic/hematologic diseases. Typical clinical manifestations are mucosal bleeding, epistaxis, or superficial epidermal bleeding normally of modest entity. In most cases, the molecular mechanisms underlying impaired platelet function are not fully established, making it difficult to optimize patient care. We here provide a short overview of the various forms of acquired platelet disorders, with a particular focus on recent mechanistic studies on platelet dysfunction in von Willebrand disease.
Resisting Power, Retooling Justice Promises of Feminist Postcolonial Technosciences

This special issue explores intersections of feminism, postcolonialism, and technoscience. The papers emerged out of a 2014 research seminar on Feminist Postcolonial Science and Technology Studies ...
Semantic and Phonological Encoding in Adults Who Stutter: Silent Responses to Pictorial Stimuli

Purpose Research on language planning in adult stuttering is relatively sparse and offers diverging arguments about a potential causative relationship between semantic and phonological encoding and...
Dynamically controlled energy dissipation for fast magnetic vortex switching

Manipulation of vortex states in magnetic media provides new routes towards information storage and processing technology. The typical slow relaxation times (∼100 ns) of magnetic vortex dynamics may present an obstacle to the realization of these applications. Here, we investigate how a vortex state in a ferromagnetic microdisk can be manipulated in a way that translates the vortex core while enhancing energy dissipation to rapidly damp the vortex dynamics. We use time-resolved differential magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy to measure the motion of the vortex core in response to applied magnetic fields. We first map out how the vortex core becomes sequentially trapped by pinning sites as it translates across the disk. After applying a fast magnetic field step to translate the vortex from one pinning site to another, we observe long-lived dynamics of the vortex as it settles to the new equilibrium. We then demonstrate how the addition of a short (<10 ns) magnetic field pulse can induce additional ener...
Smoking Predicting Physical Activity in an Aging America

Tobacco smoking and physical inactivity are among leading behavioral risk factors for ill health in older adults. This study considers how smoking is associated with physical activity. Using a Life-Course model, data are analyzed regarding this relationship, controlling for, and interacted with, lifecourse and other factors. Daily smokers and sometimes smokers were hypothesized to engage in less leisuretime physical activity than those who never smoked, while those who stopped smoking were expected to do more than never smokers. Analyses were performed using SAS-Callable SUDAAN. Secondary data from ten years of a national sample of adults aged 18 and over of the National Health Interview Survey, 2001-2010, are used (N = 264,945, missing data excluded, of 282,313 total cases). Daily smokers, occasional smokers, and smoking quitters are compared to never smokers with regard to requisite physical activity (150 minutes per week of moderate, 100 of vigorous, and/or 50 of strengthening activity). Lifecourse measures include birth cohorts, age, and year of survey, as well as gender, race/ethnicity, and education. Overall, hypotheses are supported regarding daily smokers and quitters; but the hypothesis is strongly rejected among sometimes smokers, who are much more likely to do requisite physical activity. Findings differ by age, sometimes smokers age 65 and over being less likely to do physical activity. Findings among all men are similar to the overall findings, while those among all women are similar to those for older respondents. Associations of smoking status with physical activity vary greatly by race/ethnicity. Daily smokers may be most in need of both smoking cessation and leisure-time physical activity interventions. Smokingcessation efforts may pay greater physical activity benefits among women and the aged, while smoking-reduction efforts may provide better outcomes among men. Smoking reduction efforts may pay more exercise benefits among African-Americans and Hispanics.
A Detailed Model of Electroenzymatic Glutamate Biosensors To Aid in Sensor Optimization and in Applications in Vivo

Simulations conducted with a detailed model of glutamate biosensor performance describe the observed sensor performance well, illustrate the limits of sensor performance, and suggest a path toward sensor optimization. Glutamate is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, and electroenzymatic sensors have emerged as a useful tool for the monitoring of glutamate signaling in vivo. However, the utility of these sensors currently is limited by their sensitivity and response time. A mathematical model of a typical glutamate biosensor consisting of a Pt electrode coated with a permselective polymer film and a top layer of cross-linked glutamate oxidase has been constructed in terms of differential material balances on glutamate, H2O2, and O2 in one spatial dimension. Simulations suggest that reducing thicknesses of the permselective polymer and enzyme layers can increase sensitivity ∼6-fold and reduce response time ∼7-fold, and thereby improve resolution of transient glutamate signals. At cu...
A fluorescence energy transfer‐based mechanical stress sensor for specific proteins in situ

To measure mechanical stress in real time, we designed a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) cassette, denoted stFRET, which could be inserted into structural protein hosts. The probe was composed of a green fluorescence protein pair, Cerulean and Venus, linked with a stable alpha-helix. We measured the FRET efficiency of the free cassette protein as a function of the length of the linker, the angles of the fluorophores, temperature and urea denaturation, and protease treatment. The linking helix was stable to 80 degrees C, unfolded in 8 m urea, and rapidly digested by proteases, but in all cases the fluorophores were unaffected. We modified the alpha-helix linker by adding and subtracting residues to vary the angles and distance between the donor and acceptor, and assuming that the cassette was a rigid body, we calculated its geometry. We tested the strain sensitivity of stFRET by linking both ends to a rubber sheet subjected to equibiaxial stretch. FRET decreased proportionally to the substrate strain. The naked cassette expressed well in human embryonic kidney-293 cells and, surprisingly, was concentrated in the nucleus. However, when the cassette was located into host proteins such alpha-actinin, nonerythrocyte spectrin and filamin A, the labeled hosts expressed well and distributed normally in cell lines such as 3T3, where they were stressed at the leading edge of migrating cells and relaxed at the trailing edge. When collagen-19 was labeled near its middle with stFRET, it expressed well in Caenorhabditis elegans, distributing similarly to hosts labeled with a terminal green fluorescent protein, and the worms behaved normally.
Web Security for E-Commerce

This tutorial presents an overview of the major categories of Web site attacks, their effects, and possible countermeasures. The focus is the Web security necessary for a reasonable guarantee of secure e-commerce. The tutorial is intended for those who have little or no knowledge of Web security and its importance to e-commerce. It provides a basic understanding of the issues, the techniques, and the nomenclature used. An annotated bibliography points the reader to additional sources on specific topics.
The Unity and Difference of the Speculative and the Historical in Hegel's Concept of Geist

While Hegel scholars overall have acknowledged that the concept of Geist (Spirit or Mind) is central to Hegel’s comprehension of history, there is some degree of controversy among commentators concerning the interpretation of this concept. Lack of clarity about whether the principles Hegel presents fall on the speculative or on the historical level can result in charges of mystification. In this essay I attempt to clarify the concept of Geist by 1) defining the speculative transcendental meaning of Geist , which will involve articulating the principles that structure Geist ’s essential features, especially as presented in Hegel’s Logic; 2) explicating the historical and existential dimension of Geist , which will focus on the nature of its action and embodiment, specifically attending to the nation state as the true historical individual, and 3) explaining the essential connection between the speculative and the historical in such a way as to address their dialectical unity in difference, and thus to alleviate the problem of ontology overcoming Geist ’s temporality.
Surfaces with Boundary

In this chapter we shall develop some machinery which we shall need in the next chapter to prove one of the most celebrated theorems in differential geometry, the Gauss-Bonnet theorem. We shall first discuss n-surfaces-with-boundary. Then we shall develop a little bit of the differential calculus of forms.
Introduction to the Integrated Project Planning and Management Cycle (IPPMC)

The key to economic and social growth in all countries—developed or developing—is better management in all sectors: agriculture, industry, public works, education, public health, government. In the U.S. in recent years, investigators have studied waste and mismanagement on a wide range of construction projects, including nuclear power plants, in the federal government itself, and in numerous other situations.1,2,3
Production Test Data and Preliminary Analysis of Top Chimney/Cavity

The reentry drilling established communication with the top Rio Blanco detonation region at a depth of 1704 m, or ∼76 m above the top detonation center. A total of 2.8 × 106 m3 (98 × 106 ft3) of dr...
Power Reduction Using High-Level Clock-Gating

Hardware co-processors are used for accelerating specific compute-intensive tasks dedicated to video/audio codec, encryption/decryption, etc. Since many of these data-processing tasks already have efficient software algorithms, one could reuse those to synthesize the co-processor IPs.
Development of SGLT1 and SGLT2 inhibitors

Sodium–glucose cotransporters SGLT1 (encoded by SGLT1, also known as SLC5A1) and SGLT2 (encoded by SGLT2, also known as SLC5A2) are important mediators of epithelial glucose transport. While SGLT1 accounts for most of the dietary glucose uptake in the intestine, SGLT2 is responsible for the majority of glucose reuptake in the tubular system of the kidney, with SGLT1 reabsorbing the remainder of the filtered glucose. As a consequence, mutations in the SLC5A1 gene cause glucose/galactose malabsorption, whereas mutations in SLC5A2 are associated with glucosuria. Since the cloning of SGLT1 more than 30 years ago, big strides have been made in our understanding of these transporters and their suitability as drug targets. Phlorizin, a naturally occurring competitive inhibitor of SGLT1 and SGLT2, provided the first insights into potential efficacy, but its use was hampered by intestinal side effects and a short half-life. Nevertheless, it was a starting point for the development of specific inhibitors of SGLT1 and SGLT2, as well as dual SGLT1/2 inhibitors. Since the approval of the first SGLT2 inhibitor in 2013 by the US Food and Drug Administration, SGLT2 inhibitors have become a new mainstay in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They also have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system (including heart failure) and the kidney. This review focuses on the rationale for the development of individual SGLT2 and SGLT1 inhibitors, as well as dual SGLT1/2 inhibition, including, but not limited to, aspects of genetics, genetically modified mouse models, mathematical modelling and general considerations of drug discovery in the field of metabolism.
Jaw pain secondary to atypical maxillary torus near the incisive canal: A cone beam computed tomography study

Pain in the anterior maxilla can be odontogenic or nonodontogenic. If it is not related to the teeth, then the differential diagnosis is based on a clinical exam, radiographic exam, and often, on advanced imaging. This case report is based on a 58-year-old male with a chief complaint of chronic pain with acute exacerbations in the region of the rugae of the maxillary central incisors. Clinical examination and planar radiography led to the suspicion of a cyst in the region of the incisive foramen. The patient was referred for advanced imaging. Cone beam computed tomography imaging confirmed the presence of an unusual tori in the region of the incisive foramen that led to periodic inflammation in the region. A differential diagnosis of the pain included pain secondary to a localized inflammation of the incisive canal and nasopalatine duct, and an inflammation of the soft tissue interdental col in the region of the central incisors as well as the benign and malignant minor salivary gland tumors. Because the rugae is attached to the palate, any expansion of the soft tissues in this region causes pain that must be diagnosed accurately to treat the cause.
El ethos errante: movimiento y morada en El viajero del siglo de Andrés Neuman

Este articulo analiza el ethos errante en El viajero del siglo (2009) de Andres Neuman. Con los conceptos de fuerza centrifuga y fuerza centripeta, elaborados por M. Bahktin y aplicados a la literatura latinoamericana por Fernando Ainsa, conceptualizo el ethos errante como aquella literatura latinoamericana contemporanea que se construye como fuga y desplazamiento de la tradicion, pero que al mismo tiempo regresa a ella. En su movimiento centrifugo, exploro la manera en que El viajero del siglo se caracteriza por la desterritorializacion y lo transnacional. En su movimiento centripeto, analizo la naturaleza metaliteraria de la novela y la manera en que presenta una revision historica de la literatura latinoamericana de un siglo al incorporar motivos del modernismo, las vanguardias centradas en la escritura de Borges, y el Boom. Finalmente, sostengo que el ethos errante se relaciona con la posicion ambivalente de Andres Neuman como hijo de migraciones culturales.
Use of Electronic Health Records to Improve Maternal Vaccination

Abstract Introduction Accurate electronic health record (EHR) documentation of maternal vaccination is an essential component of evidence-based strategies to increase vaccination uptake. Within a larger intervention trial, this study assessed the impact of tailored protocols and immunization champions on obstetrics-gynecology practices' EHR documentation of maternal vaccines—including administration, history, and refusals—and sought to understand clinical staff's experience of the barriers and solutions to documentation in the EHR. Methods In 2012 and 2014, random samples of obstetric patient charts (N = 275) were reviewed during the preintervention and postintervention periods to assess changes in vaccination documentation. In-depth interviews with clinic staff were conducted during and after the intervention to evaluate the experience of clinical providers and staff in using the EHR to document maternal vaccine activities (N = 34 interviews). Analyses were conducted in 2015 and 2016. Results Documentation of any vaccination activities in the EHR for influenza vaccine improved from 27% to 60% (p Conclusions Existing EHR structured fields do not meet the needs of obstetric providers, posing challenges for maternal immunization. We recommend obstetrics-gynecology practices collaborate with staff to develop effective maternal vaccination documentation protocols, test usability when selecting an EHR, and customize alerts to balance effectively reminding clinical staff against alert fatigue. Further, we recommend that future work address the need for improved maternal vaccination documentation to facilitate quality improvement in obstetrics-gynecology settings.
Prospects for X-Ray and FUV Observations to Provide Insight into the "Cepheid Mass Problem"

The classical Cepheid Leavitt Law (Period-Luminosity relation) has been known for 100 years, and used as in extragalactic distance determination for nearly as long. However, Cepheids still present us with surprises. Recent results about X-ray behavior is just one example. Around minimum radius the pulsation wave from the envelope creates a disruption in the photosphere and chromosphere. X-ray activity, on the other hand remains constant at a low level at this phase. Just after maximum radius, however, X-ray flux increases sharply (four fold in the case of $\delta$ Cep). We summarize here the observational program to explore parameters involved and theoretical investigations searching for a basic understanding of this upper atmosphere phenomena.
Radiographic Incidence and Functional Outcomes of Distal Radius Fractures Undergoing Volar Plate Fixation With Concomitant Scapholunate Widening: A Prospective Analysis:

Background: Scapholunate (SL) ligament injuries can occur concomitantly with distal radius fractures (DRFs), and the management of acute SL injury in the setting of DRFs remains controversial. The purpose of the study is to identify the radiographic incidence of SL widening in DRF treated with volar plate fixation and to determine the functional outcomes of DRF with concomitant radiographic SL-widening. Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients with DRFs, with and without radiographic SL-widening, and treated with volar locked plating, were prospectively enrolled. No SL ligament repairs or reconstructions were performed in any cases. Patients with DRFs with radiographic criteria for SL widening were compared to those without. Patients were evaluated at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively with Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand and Patient-Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) questionnaires. Results: Thirty-one patients (26.5%) were found to have radiographic evidence of SL widening. Patients with concomitant SL widening had less wrist extension at 3 months (52.4 degrees vs 60.8, P = .034) and at 1 year (64.5 degrees vs 71.8, P = .023). The group with SL widening had greater articular step off at 3 months (0.33 vs 0.06, P = .042), but no difference at 1 year (0.11 vs 0.05, P = .348). There were no differences in wrist flexion, supination, pronation, volar tilt, radial inclination, radial height, ulnar variance, PRWE scores, and Quick Dash scores at 3 months and 1 year. Conclusions: Radiographic SL-widening is a common finding associated with DRFs undergoing surgical repair. There are similar clinical outcomes between those with untreated SL widening compared to those without an SL widening at 1-year postoperatively.
Differential dopamine modulation of spinal reflex amplitudes is associated with the presence or absence of the autonomic nervous system

The spinal cord contains a highly collateralized network of descending dopamine (DA) fibers that stem from the dorso-posterior hypothalamic A11 region in the brain, however, the modulatory actions of DA have generally only been assessed in lumbar segments L2-L5. In contrast to these exclusively sensorimotor segments, spinal cords segments T1-L2 and, in mouse, L6-S2, additionally contain the intermediolateral (IML) nucleus, the origin of autonomic nervous system (ANS). Here, we tested if the different spinal circuits in sensorimotor and IML-containing segments react differently to the modulation of the monosynaptic reflex (MSR) by DA. Bath-application of DA (1 μM) led to a decrease of MSR amplitude in L3-L5 segments; however, in IML-containing segments (T10-L2, and S1/2) the MSR response was facilitated. We did not observe any difference in the response between thoracic (sympathetic) and lumbosacral (parasympathetic) segments. Application of the D2-receptor agonists bromocriptine or quinpirole mimicked the effects of DA, while blocking D2 receptor pathways with raclopride or application with the D1-receptor agonist SKF 38393 led to an increase of the MSR in L3-L5 segments and a decrease of the MSR in IML-containing segments. In contrast, in the presence of the gap-junction blockers, carbenoloxone and quinine, DA modulatory actions in IML-containing segments were similar to those of sensorimotor L3-L5 segments. We suggest that DA modulates MSR amplitudes in the spinal cord in a segment-specific manner, and that the differential outcome observed in ANS segments may be a result of gap junctions in the IML.
The Role of Long-Term Memory in Mental Transformations of Pitch

Most people can recognize and perform a musical piece under a variety of transformations such as altering the key or varying the tempo. However, we also know that other mental transformations of mu...
Decolonizing African Media Studies

African Media Studies which is marginalized in the Global North academy lacks not only representation from African students/scholars but is also under-theorized. Employing a decolonial approach, th...
Characterizing gene expression responses to biomechanical strain in an in vitro model of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative joint disease affecting articular cartilage and underlying bone. Both genetic and environmental factors appear to contribute to the development of this disease. Specifically, pathological levels of biomechanical stress on joints play a notable role in disease initiation and progression. Population-level gene expression studies of cartilage cells experiencing biomechanical stress may uncover gene-by-environment interactions relevant to OA and human joint health. To build a foundation for such studies, we applied differentiation protocols to develop an in vitro system of chondrogenic cell lines (iPSC-chondrocytes). We characterized gene regulatory responses of three human iPSC-chondrocyte lines to cyclic tensile strain treatment. We measured the contribution of biological and technical factors to gene expression variation in this system and, even in this small sample, found several genes that exhibit inter-individual expression differences in response to mechanical strain, including genes previously implicated in OA. Expanding this system to include iPSC-chondrocytes from a larger number of individuals will allow us to characterize and better understand gene-by-environment interactions related to OA and joint health.
The Volatility Premium

The difference, average risk-neutral and physical volatility, is substantial and translates into a large return premium for sellers of index options. This paper studies a general equilibrium model ...
Supramammillary neurons projecting to the septum regulate dopamine and motivation for environmental interaction in mice

The supramammillary region (SuM) is a posterior hypothalamic structure, known to regulate hippocampal theta oscillations and arousal. However, recent studies reported that the stimulation of SuM neurons with neuroactive chemicals, including substances of abuse, is reinforcing. We conducted experiments to elucidate how SuM neurons mediate such effects. Using optogenetics, we found that the excitation of SuM glutamatergic (GLU) neurons was reinforcing in mice; this effect was relayed by their projections to septal GLU neurons. SuM neurons were active during exploration and approach behavior and diminished activity during sucrose consumption. Consistently, inhibition of SuM neurons disrupted approach responses, but not sucrose consumption. Such functions are similar to those of mesolimbic dopamine neurons. Indeed, the stimulation of SuM-to-septum GLU neurons and septum-to-ventral tegmental area (VTA) GLU neurons activated mesolimbic dopamine neurons. We propose that the supramammillo-septo-VTA pathway regulates arousal that reinforces and energizes behavioral interaction with the environment.
Mapping textual descriptions to condition ratings to assist bridge inspection and condition assessment using hierarchical attention

Abstract Current bridge management strategies rely on experience-driven manually assigned condition ratings that are vulnerable to human subjectivity and experience variance. To improve the consistency of the condition rating practices, this study identifies narrative descriptions from bridge inspection reports as an untapped data source and proposes a data-driven framework as a supportive tool for two applications: automated condition recommendation and real-time quality control. A hierarchical architecture employing recurrent neural network encoders with an attention mechanism was developed using a collection of reports from the Virginia Department of Transportation. The condition recommendation application performed a classification task and demonstrated improved performance over a variety of baseline systems. The quality control application learns a data-driven decision threshold to decide whether to accept or reject an inspector-provided rating, which provides a cyber-human collaboration route for condition assessment. Visualization of the resulting attention patterns was shown to provide interpretable insights which highlight potentially-overlooked indicators.
The Parameters of Empathy: Core Considerations for Psychotherapy and Supervision

A theory neutral and pre-empirical formulation of empathy as empathic action is presented as a basic feature of shared social practice, a core social competence, always more or less present if a person is to adequately engage with others. The conceptual tools of Paradigm Case Formulation and Parametric Analysis are employed to clarify the "more or less" quality of empathy and to provide a format to map agreement and disagreement on meanings. The paradigm case is described as the communication of the recognition of the significance of another person’s ongoing intentional actions and emotional states in a manner that the other person can tolerate. The parametric analysis involves the parameters of Wants, Knows, Knows-How, Significance, Performance, Achievement, Identity and Personal Characteristics.
Alteration of Deoxyribonucleic Acid-dependent Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase Activities in Amphibian Liver Nuclei during Thyroxine-induced Metamorphosis

Abstract DNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity was determined in isolated tadpole liver nuclei. RNA polymerase I and II activities could be differentiated in situ by the use of α-amanitin. The nuclear RNA polymerases were shown to respond to Mn2+ and Mg2+ in a manner similar to that reported for the same enzymes from other eukaryotes and revealed a biphasic activity curve in the presence of increased ammonium sulfate concentration. It was shown that the two peaks of activity were the result of different optimal activities in the presence of ammonium sulfate of RNA polymerase I (50 mm) and of RNA polymerase II (300 mm). The nearest neighbor and base composition analyses revealed a marked change in the ratio of AMP + UMP: GMP + CMP when the isolated nuclei were assayed in the presence of α-amanitin. While the rate of RNA synthesis with isolated nuclei was nonlinear, this appeared not to be the result of RNA polymerase inactivation or of degradation of the product by ribonuclease. Thyroxine administration, either by injection or immersion of tadpoles, caused marked stimulation of both RNA polymerases I and II. The increases in activities of both enzymes were not detectable until at least 4 days after tadpole immersion in 2.0 x 10-8m thyroxine. An increase in mitochondrial carbamyl phosphate synthetase paralleled that of the RNA polymerases. There was no significant time lag between the increase in RNA polymerase I, RNA polymerase II, and carbamyl phosphate synthetase activities. The increase in RNA polymerase activities was also observed during natural metamorphosis.
Business Lawyer, Woman Warrior: An Allegory of Feminine and Masculine Theories

The first part of this essay is a discourse on how two of the last half century’s most influential contributions to legal thinking: Law and Economics Jurisprudence and Feminist Legal Theory, whose adherents are normally adversaries, can function synergistically to create a greater analytic power. Using business law issues as an example - historically law and economics’ terrain but recently explored by feminism - I comment on how each can unravel different knots but each standing alone leave other conundrums unresolved.Expanding on the feminist concept of “masculine thinking,” I discuss how, just as law and economics’ analytic style (i.e., “masculine thinking”) by itself with regard to business law concerns is both enlightening but also limiting, so is feminism (i.e., “feminine thinking.”) A collaboration of the two would create a greater whole then either of the individual parts.This essay is a contribution to an international anthology in honor of Yvette Merchiers, who in addition to being the first woman law professor and first woman dean of the Law Faculty at Ghent University, Belgium, was also one of the leading business law scholars in Europe in her time. As Professor Merchiers entered the all-male world of law academia in a heretofore all male field of business law to great success, it seems appropriate to examine the development of her career and her scholarly contributions with the conjoined lens of “masculine” and “feminine” thinking. Not surprisingly, though Professor Merchiers’ career began well before the prominence of the 2nd wave of feminism, we find that she intuitively adopted both “masculine” and “feminine” thinking in her writings, her professional development and her personal style.
Variations in fluconazole susceptibility and electrophoretic karyotype among oral isolates of Candida albicans from patients with AIDS and oral candidiasis.

DNA subtyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and in vitro susceptibility testing were used to study strain variation and fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans isolates from patients with AIDS undergoing azole (fluconazole and clotrimazole) therapy for oropharyngeal candidiasis. A total of 29 patients suffered 71 episodes of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Overall, 121 isolates of C. albicans recovered throughout the course of treatment of each infection were available for further characterization. DNA subtyping revealed a total of 61 different DNA subtypes. In vitro susceptibility testing of the 121 isolates by using proposed standard methods of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards revealed MICs of fluconazole ranging from 64 micrograms/ml. The MIC for 50% of isolates tested was 0.25 microgram/ml, and the MIC for 90% of isolates tested was 8.0 micrograms/ml. MICs were > or = 64 micrograms/ml for only 7.4% of the isolates tested. The majority (62%) of the patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis and undergoing azole therapy were infected or colonized with more than one DNA subtype, and the introduction or selection of strains with a more resistant DNA subtype during the course of fluconazole therapy was not uncommon. With one exception, this did not appear to have an adverse effect on clinical outcome. In contrast, for patients with AIDS and oropharyngeal candidiasis infected with a single DNA subtype of C. albicans, an increase in fluconazole MICs for the infecting strain was rarely demonstrated over the course of therapy.
An Integrated Architecture, Methods and Some Tools for Enhancing Sustainable Enterprises and Systems

Sustainability and, in particular, green sustainability are very complex subjects, because they typically include several integrated sub-systems. Many of these contain dynamically changing objects and variables, which are often difficult to measure and calibrate. Green sustainability means waste reduction and optimization with a non-toxic process focus that can be maintained over time, for a very long time. Furthermore, it means the ability of an ecosystem to maintain ecological processes and functions, biological diversity and productivity over time. Sustainable, green engineering design, manufacturing, demanufacturing and re-engineering are changing every aspect of our lives. In this paper, we offer an overview, a systems engineering framework, as well as some methodology and concrete results.
Careerists and Contractors - A Service Provider Comparison of Attitudes: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Public Interest

Many words exist for the situation that occurs when private entity provides government services. Contracting, Outsourcing, and Privatization are just a few of the hot button words that have become prevalent in our vernacular over the past few decades. Each of these terms have underlying negative connotations and stereotypical viewpoints of behavior of employees by most people. Yet, there are some instances when contractors have provided services with better efficiency and effectiveness than when they were previously provided by governmental agencies. The purpose of “Careerists and Contractors - A Service Provider Comparison: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Public Interest” is to attempt to analyze instances of good and bad contracting by analyzing previous research documents, using a comparison sheet between two municipalities one that has contracted heavily and the other that has not, and identify key variables that in previous studies have impacted the overall experience of contracting goods and services. The end result is a list of activities and situational insight that will provide a clearer picture to administrators and policy makers on when it is appropriate and not to utilize contractors over traditional government staff. This has importance to numerous sub-fields of public administration including organizational theory and behavior as well as personnel administration.
Modification of le bag ileocolonic pouch with improved results

Abstract The use of detubularized terminal ileum and cecum to construct a highly compliant, low-pressure, continent ileocolonic pouch was first described by Light and Engelman and was termed the “Le Bag.” Results were excellent in terms of continence and preservation of renal function; however, nocturnal incontinence persisted in a substantial number of patients. We have modified the original procedure in 17 patients by performing a urethral-cecal anastomoses instead of using a tail of nondetubularized ileum. In addition, in those patients in whom a urethral anastomoses is contraindicated, we have modified the nipple as the continence-providing mechanism. Overall daytime and nighttime continence rate is 94 percent. Of the 13 patients with urethralcecal anastomoses, only 1 patient requires intermittent catheterization. The remainder are voiding by Valsalva maneuver and with minimal residual urine. Based on our experience with the Le Bag ileocolonic pouch, we believe it is an excellent choice for total bladder replacement or continent diversion—the advantages being the relative ease of construction, minimal long-term complications, and near total urinary continence.
Modeling Parasite Infection Dynamics when there Is Heterogeneity and Imperfect Detectability

Understanding the infection and recovery rate from parasitic infections is valuable for public health planning. Two challenges in modeling these rates are (1) infection status is only observed at discrete times even though infection and recovery take place in continuous time and (2) detectability of infection is imperfect. We address these issues through a Bayesian hierarchical model based on a random effects Weibull distribution. The model incorporates heterogeneity of the infection and recovery rate among individuals and allows for imperfect detectability. We estimate the model by a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm with data augmentation. We present simulation studies and an application to an infection study about the parasite Giardia lamblia among children in Kenya.