cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impactite from Henbury, Australia

Impactite was formed in several small, closely spaced craters by the impact of iron meteorites on sandstone at Henbury, central Australia. Through application of energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, convergent-beam electron diffraction, and selected-area electron diffraction, chemical compositions and space groups were determined for multiple crystalline phases in the impactite. Based on this chemical and structural information, sub-micrometer fayalite (approximately 40% of the total volume of crystalline phases), magnetite (25%), α-quartz (20%), hercynite (10%), diamond (3%), and a Ni-sulfide phase (2%) were identified, in addition to abundant glass. Compared with the pre-shock rock, the Henbury impactite was subjected to dramatic phase transformation and chemical redistribution and fractionation processes during the impact event. The newly formed dendritic crystalline phases such as fayalite, magnetite, and hercynite, as well as the surrounding glass, may represent metastable eutectic crystallization that occurred between approximately 1600 °C (liquidus temperature of hercynite) and 850 °C (75% of the liquidus temperature of fayalite) on a time scale of seconds. Generally, the composition of glass surrounding magnetite, fayalite, and hercynite is close to SiO2, plus small amounts of Fe (about 10%), but the glass around magnetite can also be considerably more enriched in Fe. The distribution of magnetite and fayalite is probably related to the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio in the original melt as altered by the local oxygen fugacity, and the formation of hercynite is governed by both the Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio and the distribution of Al in the sample. Alpha quartz probably formed from Fe-depleted silica in the autoannealing period, at low pressure and relatively low temperatures. Diamond crystals in the impactite are euhedral and may have formed through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at very high temperatures. Nickel sulfide probably crystallized directly from sulfide vapor or quenched sulfide melts, under supercooled and reduced conditions. The impactite is chemically very heterogeneous, presumably due to the limited diffusion time available for mixing of Fe and silica during the rapid cooling history. Iron, Ni, and Mg tend to concentrate in fayalite, magnetite, and hercynite, whereas K and Si are enriched in glass. Hercynite contains more Al, and other crystalline phases less Al, than the glass. In general, the Henbury impactite reflects a chaotic mixture of equilibrium, metastable, and non-equilibrium domains produced at high temperatures in a very short time, and most crystallization appears to have occurred in the post-shock period.
Implementation of active surveillance in electronic health records at pediatric institutions.

Pharmacotherapy services provided by clinical pharmacists within the hospital setting have demonstrated optimal patient care outcomes, and the use of active surveillance programs has helped to improve the care provided to patients.[1][1] Active surveillance consists of a set of processes for the
States and the World Court: The Politics of Neglect

The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the tribunal that has been widely regarded as a potential World Supreme Court, sits at The Hague in a state of august indolence, neglected and underemployed. Election to membership on the International Court of Justice is a high honor, but it carries with it the threat that a distinguished international lawyer may be doomed to extended periods of judicial thumb-twiddling. The Court has had relatively little business, and it appears likely, for the foreseeable future, to have a declining rather than an increasing caseload. States have displayed little enthusiasm for taking their disputes to the Court, and even less for committing themselves in a meaningful way to arrangements that would enable the Court to assert jurisdiction without dependence upon the ad hoc consent of all the parties to a dispute. Similarly, states, considered collectively as international organs competent to request advisory opinions from the Court, have made limited use of that opportunity.
Rhodotorula F.C. Harrison

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on Rhodotorula genus and its member species. The cells of this genus are spheroidal, ovoidal, or elongate, and reproduction occurs by multilateral or polar budding. Ballistoconidia are not formed, and some strains synthesize red or yellow pigments in malt agar cultures. Most, but not all, species lack the ability to assimilate inositol, and when inositol is utilized, D-glucuronate is not assimilated. Starch-like substances are not synthesized by any of the species, and fermentative ability is lacking. The member species of this genus include Rhodotorula acheniorum, Rhodotorula acuta, Rhodotorula araucariae, Rhodotorula armeniaca, Rhodotorula aurantiaca, Rhodotorula auriculariae, and Rhodotorula bacarum. The cells of Rhodotorula acheniorum, after undergoing growth in 5% malt extract for three days at 25° C, appear as ellipsoidal, mostly of which elongate, and contain conspicuous fat globules. The cells of Rhodotorula acuta, after undergoing growth in 5% malt extract for three days at 25° C appear as ovoidal to ellipsoidal, where some cells taper to a sharp point.
Separation and quantitation of hazardous wastes from abrasive blast media.

A sample of glass bead abrasive blasting material (ABM) waste, received from Robins Air Force Base (Georgia), was examined to determine whether the waste could be rendered nonhazardous by separating paint contaminants from the ABM. The sample was analyzed with size distribution and toxicity characteristics leaching procedure. A Microtrac analyzer was used to measure the size of fine particles (-325 Tyler mesh), and scanning electron microscopy analysis was performed to identify the nature of the contaminants in the ABM waste. Tests using froth flotation, magnetic separation, desliming, and acid washing were conducted to develop a process for removing the contaminants. A pilot plant test using the developed process rendered 82.1 % or the ABM waste material nonhazardous.
Clinical procedures of guided bone augmentation

Summary Although the available literature with its large variation in quality and criteria does not easily allow one to draw many firm conclusions, some common findings can be traced. The use of autogenous onlay blocks placed together with self-tapping implants can achieve an excellent long-term success rate of individual implants. Autogenous bone chips can be used to deal with fenestration and dehiscence defects when used in combination with e-PTFE membranes. (D)FDBA has been used as particulate material and in conjunction with barrier membranes. Although these allografts do not compare favorably with autogenous bone chips, their role as space maintainers under barrier membranes cannot be ignored. Demineralized bovine bone offers excellent osseoconductive properties. It can secure a predictable fill of intrabony defects on its own, whereas for bone augmentation in dehiscence and fenestration defects it should be used in combination with a membrane. Its slow resorption makes it more favorable for use with rather than before implant placement. Thus far the e-PTFE membranes, GTAM and TR-GTAM, are best documented. They offer reliable results, except for vertical augmentation procedures, in which exposure is regularly encountered (approximately 15%). The use of a collagen membrane when supported by a bone substitute to maintain the space gives good results, although the clinical data are still limited. The clinician should evaluate the eventual benefit of GBA, namely to be able to harbor longer implants with a better prognosis, versus the drawbacks and risks involved with the use of either bone substitutes or membranes.
Oviposition traits generate extrinsic postzygotic isolation between two pine sawfly species

Although empirical data indicate that ecological speciation is prevalent in nature, the relative importance of different forms of reproductive isolation and the traits generating reproductive isolation remain unclear. To address these questions, we examined a pair of ecologically divergent pine-sawfly species: while Neodiprion pinetum specializes on a thin-needled pine (Pinus strobus), N. lecontei utilizes thicker-needled pines. We hypothesized that extrinsic postzygotic isolation is generated by oviposition traits. To test this hypothesis, we assayed ovipositor morphology, oviposition behavior, and host-dependent oviposition success in both species and in F1 and backcross females. Compared to N. lecontei, N. pinetum females preferred P. strobus more strongly, had smaller ovipositors, and laid fewer eggs per needle. Additionally, we observed host- and trait-dependent reductions in oviposition success in F1 and backcross females. Hybrid females that had pinetum-like host preference (P. strobus) and lecontei-like oviposition traits (morphology and egg pattern) fared especially poorly. Together, these data indicate that maladaptive combinations of oviposition traits in hybrids contribute to extrinsic postzygotic isolation between N. lecontei and N. pinetum, suggesting that oviposition traits may be an important driver of divergence in phytophagous insects.
Patho-Flow Diagramming: A Strategy for Critical Thinking and Clinical Decision Making

Developing and implementing alternative strategies to assist nursing students to gain critical thinking and clinical decision-making skills are paramount for today's nurse educator. Patho-flow diagramming is offered as a strategy that merges nursing process and pathophysiology with approaches used effectively in general education to develop thinking skills.
Factors related to life satisfaction among urban African American adults receiving care at a publicly-funded sexual health clinic.

AbstractLife satisfaction is linked to premature morbidity and mortality and it may be compromised for individuals living in economically-disadvantaged, urban neighborhoods. The present study explores how behavioral and social-environmental health factors are associated with life satisfaction among a sample of African American young adults. Participants (N = 307, Mage = 26.6 years, 53% male) were recruited from a publicly-funded clinic for a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Data from the baseline assessment of the RCT, which included measures of sleep, depression, anxiety, social support, alcohol and drug use problems, city stress, and life satisfaction, were used for the current study. Correlation analyses assessed bivariate associations between life satisfaction and the demographic and health-related factors. Linear regression using backward elimination determined the best fitting model of factors associated with life satisfaction. Backward elimination resulted in the following variables remaining as ...
Use of an endotracheal tube for surgical abortion complicated by a leiomyomatous uterus: a case report.

Abnormal uterine anatomy, especially leiomyomas, can significantly impact the difficulty and potential morbidity of surgical uterine evacuation. To avoid hysterotomy and/or hysterectomy, limited evidence exists to guide surgical uterine evacuation when pregnancy tissue is inaccessible with routine instruments. A 41-year-old G4P1021 African American woman at 14 4/7 weeks’ gestation was referred for surgical-induced abortion in the setting of an enlarged leiomyomatous uterus. Two large opposing leiomyomas at the internal cervical os rendered pregnancy tissue inaccessible with routine gynecologic surgical instruments. With ultrasound guidance, an endotracheal tube was connected to routine electric suction and utilized to complete uterine evacuation. With distorted or markedly enlarged uterine anatomy rendering pregnancy tissue inaccessible with routine surgical instruments, the minimally invasive use of an endotracheal tube may aid completion of uterine evacuation for surgical uterine evacuation.
Intra prediction using face continuity in 360-degree video coding

This paper presents a new reference sample derivation method for intra prediction in 360-degree video coding. Unlike the conventional reference sample derivation method for 2D video coding, which uses the samples located directly above and on the left of the current block, the proposed method considers the spherical nature of 360-degree video when deriving reference samples located outside the current face to which the block belongs, and derives reference samples that are geometric neighbors on the sphere. The proposed reference sample derivation method was implemented in the Joint Exploration Model 3.0 (JEM-3.0) for the cubemap projection format. Simulation results for the all intra configuration show that, when compared with the conventional reference sample derivation method, the proposed method gives, on average, luma BD-rate reduction of 0.3% in terms of the weighted spherical PSNR (WS-PSNR) and spherical PSNR (SPSNR) metrics.
Botulinum Toxins A and E Inflict Dynamic Destabilization on t-SNARE to Impair SNARE Assembly and Membrane Fusion

Botulinum toxins (BoNTs) A and E block neurotransmitter release by specifically cleaving the C- terminal ends of SNAP-25, a plasma membrane SNARE protein. Here, we find that SNAP-25A and E, the cleavage products of BoNT A and E, respectively, terminate membrane fusion via completely different mechanisms. Combined studies of single-molecule FRET and single-vesicle fusion assays reveal that SNAP-25E is incapable of supporting SNARE pairing and thus, vesicle docking. In contrast, SNAP-25A facilitates robust SNARE pairing and vesicle docking with somewhat reduced SNARE zippering, which leads to severe impairment of fusion pore opening. The electron paramagnetic resonance results show that the discrepancy between SNAP-25A and E might stem from the extent of the dynamic destabilization of the t-SNARE core at the N-terminal half, which plays a pivotal role in nucleating SNARE complex formation. Thus, the results provide insights into the structure/dynamics-based mechanism by which BoNT A and E impair membrane fusion.
Precision Livestock Farming and Farmers’ Duties to Livestock

Precision livestock farming (PLF) promises to allow modern, large-scale farms to replicate, at scale, caring farmers who know their animals. PLF refers to a suite of technologies, some only speculative. The goal is to use networked devices to continuously monitor individual animals on large farms, to compare this information to expected norms, and to use algorithms to manage individual animals (e.g. via changes in climate, feeding, or reproductive decisions) automatically. Supporters say this could not only create an artificial version of the partially mythologized image of the good steward caring for his or her animals, but to also improve on it. As one paper in favor of PLF has said, “We can not only replace the farmer’s ‘eyes and ears’ to each individual animal as in the past, but several other variables (infections, physiological variables, stress, etc.) will soon be measurable in practice” (Berckmans, in: Geers, Madec (eds) Livestock production and society, Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, pp 287–292, 2006). Yet these methods of monitoring and control raise a host of ethical issues, including alienation of laborers, further consolidation of farms, and further cover for meat consumption (a possibly independent ethical problem depending on one’s views of eating meat). In this paper, I will address these ethical issues, and suggest a different, under-examined concern: namely, that though PLF may indeed improve the lives of livestock, and the sustainability of livestock operations, it is possible that it will do so at the cost of a loss of identity and relationships for farmers, as well as for the animals in their charge.
Psychedelic Naturalism and Interspecies Alliance: Views from the Emerging Do-It-Yourself Mycology Movement

Do-it-yourself (DIY) mycology is a movement that has emerged in the last decade in North America. DIY mycologists specialize in easy and accessible methods of mushroom cultivation and mycological experimentation and mobilize a discourse of alliance with the fungal kingdom. They draw primarily on home cultivation methods innovated by Psilocybe cultivators in the 1970s and on creative applications popularized by commercial mycologist and psychedelic enthusiast Paul Stamets in the 2000s. As a counterpoint to the newfound visibility and legitimacy of lab-synthesized psilocybin in clinical psychiatry, DIY mycology exemplifies an alternate history of this multispecies engagement. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Pacific Northwest, this chapter begins with the tacit premise of the psychedelic/entheogenic movement that the use of psychedelics fosters ecological concern. Many DIY mycologists express biocentric ethics and eco-spiritual principles, but interviews revealed a diverse and nuanced relationship to psychedelics. I argue that DIY mycology is best understood as an interspecies (or cross-kingdom) engagement that is part of an emergent ecological ethics and deep ecology worldview, one that subsumes psychedelic experiences as one manifestation of that engagement. DIY mycology exemplifies how the spread of mycological know-how, fascination, and enthusiasm has fostered an engagement with fungi that extends far beyond psychedelics. To understand this engagement, I contextualize it within wider social and cultural shifts, particularly those that reformulated our practical, ethical, and conceptual relationship with the natural world. This movement attests to the existence of multiple means to enact these ethics and to foster meaningful relationality with nonhuman life in contemporary North American society and culture.
Positive site selection bias in meta-analyses comparing natural regeneration to active forest restoration

Several recent meta-analyses have aimed to determine whether natural regeneration is more effective at recovering tropical forests than active restoration (for example, tree planting). We reviewed this literature and found that comparisons between strategies are biased by positive site selection. Studies of natural forest regeneration are generally conducted at sites where a secondary forest was already present, whereas tree planting studies are done in a broad range of site conditions, including non-forested sites that may not have regenerated in the absence of planting. Thus, a level of success in forest regeneration is guaranteed for many studies representing natural regeneration, but not for those representing active restoration. The complexity of optimizing forest restoration is best addressed by paired experimentation at the same site, replicated across landscapes. Studies that have taken this approach reach different conclusions than those arising from meta-analyses; the results of paired experimental comparisons emphasize that natural regeneration is a highly variable process and that active restoration and natural regeneration are complementary strategies.
Modulation of Xanthine metabolism ameliorates inflammation and accelerates diabetic wound healing

Wound healing in diabetic patients is impaired because of dysregulated innate immune response that results in a chronic inflammatory state. It has been shown by our group and others that metabolites can contribute to a state of chronic inflammation in diabetic tissues. In a murine model of Type-2 diabetes (diet-induced obese mice; DIO), we assessed role of uric acid in driving macrophage-mediated inflammation and delayed wound healing. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we show that macrophages from DIO mice have reduced levels of xanthine, a precursor in the uric acid pathway. Xanthine is converted to uric acid via Xanthine oxidase/dehydrogenase (XOR) encoded by the Xdh gene. DIO macrophages express higher levels of Xdh and increased levels of uric acid, suggesting increased XOR activity. Further, exogenous addition of uric acid led to increased production of IL-1β by macrophages. Importantly, pharmacologic inhibition of XOR with Allopurinol resulted in reduced levels of IL-1β expression by macrophages. In order to examine this in vivo , DIO mice were treated with Allopurinol leading to significantly improved wound healing. In summary, our data suggest that the xanthine metabolic pathway can be targeted therapeutically to accelerate wound healing in diabetic patients.
Do bank CEOs really increase risk in vega? Evidence from a dynamic panel GMM specification

Abstract Previous executive compensation studies find that firm risk increases in the risk-taking incentive (vega) of CEOs’ compensation packages. However, the standard methodology of two-stage least squares (2SLS) regression can suffer from invalid instruments. Using a dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) specification to control for dynamic endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and simultaneity ( Wintoki, Linck, & Netter, 2012 ), we find no evidence of a positive relationship between risk and vega for banking firms. Furthermore, across institutions, CEOs’ pay-performance sensitivity (delta) positively relates to the risk. Finally, high-leverage banks and commercial banks seem less prone to risk increases in delta relative to the entire sample of financial institutions. These results are important to investors, boards, regulators, and creditors, as they are all concerned with the risk of the financial institution.
Computing in cantor's paradise with λZFC

Applied mathematicians increasingly use computers to answer mathematical questions. We want to provide them domain-specific languages. The languages should have exact meanings and computational meanings. Some proof assistants can encode exact mathematics and extract programs, but formalizing the required theorems can take years.As an alternative, we develop λ ZFC , a lambda calculus that contains infinite sets as values, in which to express exact mathematics and gradually change infinite calculations to computable ones. We define it as a conservative extension of set theory, and prove that most contemporary theorems apply directly to λ ZFC terms.We demonstrate λ ZFC 's expressiveness by coding up the real numbers, arithmetic and limits. We demonstrate that it makes deriving computational meaning easier by defining a monad in it for expressing limits, and using standard topological theorems to derive a computable replacement.
Heat Transfer Fins (and Handles)

This chapter introduces a lumped capacity approach to steady-state conduction problems using the important practical application of heat transfer fins (and handles). The approach is applied to the coffee/mug problem, this time with half a mug, and the heat transfer into the rim and out to ambient is detailed. Extended surfaces are widely used as either heat transfer fins (devices designed to increase the overall rate of heat transfer between a solid and a fluid) or handles (something you can grab without burning your hand). For fin applications, since the rate of heat transfer by convection (and possibly radiation in parallel) is proportional to the exposed surface area, the basic idea is to increase that exposed surface area. However, because the temperature in the fin decreases with the distance from the wall (x), there is a limit to how far the fin can extend and still be effective. A “perfect” fin is one in which the temperature of the fin is the same everywhere as its base. In a real fin, the average temperature of the fin exposed to the fluid will be less than that, and therefore the fin transfers heat at a lower rate. If the fin is long enough, the temperature at the end of the fin approaches the ambient temperature. That’s a handle you can grab. The approach taken is to develop a finite element approach. First, the fin is considered as a single lumped element, a 1-node model. This approach yields a simple closed-form solution that is surprisingly versatile and captures all the key functional dependencies of the exact solution. Next, a multi-element approach (“few node”) is developed considering the fin broken into three equal elements. This method is easily extended to two or three dimensions. Finally, a detailed methodology of the 1-node model is applied to the case of the rim of a mug of coffee.
The Greatest Integer Symbol--An Applications Approach.

This article has two major purposes. One is to demonstrate the surprising number of applications of a topic that is often pre sented in books but taught without any applications. The second is to demonstrate that real situations can be used to introduce this mathematical topic; this is what is meant by the phrase "applications ap proach." This use of applications tends to enhance the mathematical skills and theory underlying the symbol [ ]. All elementary school students have ex periences with the idea of rounding, both in and out of school. They know that $3.75 can "round up" to $3.80 or $4.00 and can "round down" to $3.70 or $3.00, depending on the question asked. Questions of round ing 5 1/2 to the nearest integer require more rules (the most common being "round halves up" or "round to the even integer"), and even these rules are known by students. The different types of rounding are easy to calculate when specific numbers are given. But, as often is the case, these rules are a bit harder to describe and handle in their general, or symbolic, forms. These symbolic forms are needed if we wish to understand the operation of computers or calculators, which must round every in finite decimal because they have only finite capacity; or if we want to symbolize the workings of businesses, who round costs or weights or mileage; or if we are interested in mathematically estimating possible errors that might occur because of rounding. The symbolization of rounding is made easy by using the symbol [ ], commonly called the "greatest integer symbol" and normally defined in the following manner:
DNA fragmentation in targets of CTL: an example of programmed cell death in the immune system.

Our studies of T cell-mediated cytotoxicity grew out of an interest in the mechanism of programmed cell death. The death of cells in the metazoan body can be categorized functionally, morphologically and biochemically. On the functional level, cell death is often acceptable or desirable for the system; it is part of the design. Examples of this programmed cell death include morphogenetic death, which occurs during early development and helps shape organs and limbs; death in systems with a normal cell turnover, for example epithelia or polymorphonuclear neutrophils; and the involution of hormone-dependent tissues. Opposed to this functionally acceptable cell death is accidental death, such as might follow physical, chemical or anoxic injury, and certain bacterial and viral infections.
Principles of Surgical Resection for Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities

Consistent use of combination of modalities has reduced the rate of amputations for extremity soft tissue sarcomas to 5%, and high control rates have been achieved. The principles of surgical resection also have evolved substantially so that more tumors are now resectable with limb salvage, and the functional status of the extremity after resection of various muscles or muscle groups has been recorded, documenting that limb function is usually excellent.
Exploring cannabis use by patients with multiple sclerosis in a state where cannabis is legal

Abstract Background Studies suggest cannabis may improve symptoms like pain and muscle spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Despite cannabis’ new-found legality and availability, few studies have explored the profile of PwMS cannabis users and characteristics of their use, particularly in a state where cannabis is legal both for recreational and medicinal use. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate cannabis use among PwMS at a large academic multiple sclerosis (MS) clinic, specifically: (1) prevalence, (2) products used (e.g., cannabidiol vs Δ9-tetrahydocannabinol), (3) symptom treatment, and (4) patient characteristics. Methods PwMS completed questions assessing personal opinions about cannabis use, characteristics of cannabis use, MS history, and sociodemographic details, as well as the self-reported disability-Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS), overall quality of life-the Patient Reported Outcome Measure Information System (PROMIS-10), and cognition-the Neuro-QoL ACGC v1.0 measures. Results Thirty-eight percent (n = 96) of PwMS were current Cannabis users (CUs). Although there were no sociodemographic or clinical differences (p ≤ 0.05) between CUs and Non-Cannabis users (NUs), CUs had significantly higher median disability compared to NUs (PDDS = 2 vs. 1; p = 0.02). Among CUs, 57% categorized their use as strictly medicinal. CUs reported using cannabis most often for pain and insomnia/poor sleep and experienced greater than 60% benefit/relief from cannabis use. Over 90% of respondents desire more research on cannabis for MS, and 74% indicated they would consider using cannabis for their MS. Conclusion As cannabis legalization has impacted the variety of cannabis products available, there appears to be growing numbers of PwMS using cannabis, with this study's CUs reporting use of highly efficacious products with minimal side-effects.
Rotating polarization using Berry's phase in asymmetric silicon strip waveguides.

Light propagating in an out-of-plane curvilinear waveguide acquires a Berry’s phase, which rotates optical polarization. The effect is promising for realizing waveguide polarization controllers. In high index contrast platforms, such as silicon-on-insulator, however, small waveguide cross-sectional asymmetries reduce the amount of polarization rotation. To overcome this, we present a method based on the periodic spatial modulation of Berry’s phase. Ninety degree polarization rotation is achieved, even in the presence of waveguide asymmetry. Using a numerical model based on Jones calculus, we demonstrate the approach with 303×300 nm2 asymmetric silicon waveguides. We convert polarization from transverse electric to transverse magnetic with a polarization extinction ratio (PER) greater than 20 dB PER over a 100 nm bandwidth in a 110×240 μm2footprint.
Epidemiology of Clinically Relevant Bleeding in Critically Ill Adolescents.

Objectives The epidemiology of clinically relevant bleeding in critically ill adolescents, particularly those who are at high risk of venous thromboembolism, is unclear. In preparation for a randomized clinical trial of pharmacologic prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism, we characterized the epidemiology of clinically relevant bleeding in critically ill adolescents. Design Post hoc analysis of data from a pediatric multicenter observational study of venous thromboembolism. Setting Six PICUs. Patients Adolescents 13-17 years old who received cardiac or pulmonary support for at least 48 hours were eligible. Those admitted with venous thromboembolism or receiving therapeutic anticoagulation were excluded. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Adolescents (n = 88) were followed daily for the development of any bleeding event. The severity of the event was categorized based on the definitions by the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The frequency of clinically relevant bleeding was 29.5% (95% CI, 20.3-40.2%) or 3.7 events (95% CI, 2.5-5.4 events) per 100 patient-days. Adolescents with venous thromboembolism were more likely to develop clinically relevant bleeding (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.08-3.94). Age was negatively associated with clinically relevant bleeding (hazard ratio for every 1-year increase in age: 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58-0.79). In contrast, predicted risk of mortality (hazard ratio for every 0.10 increase in risk: 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05-1.74) and admission for trauma or surgery (hazard ratio: 2.04; 95% CI, 1.21-3.44) were positively associated with clinically relevant bleeding. The association of clinically relevant bleeding with medications, interventions, or laboratory tests, including mechanical ventilation and pharmacologic prophylaxis with anticoagulation, did not reach statistical significance. Adolescents with clinically relevant bleeding stayed in the hospital longer than those without clinically relevant bleeding. Conclusions Clinically relevant bleeding is common in critically ill adolescents who are at high risk of venous thromboembolism. Admission for trauma or surgery can be used to stratify the risk of clinically relevant bleeding in these adolescents.
Looking backwards: is it time to assess veno-atrial interactions in pulmonary arterial hypertension?

Vena cava backflow measured using CMR imaging is a novel marker to assess veno-atrial interactions in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertensionhttp://bit.ly/2TU4d9V
THE ACTIONS OF AUTONOMIC NERVES ON CARDIAC MYOGENIC REACTIONS

Publisher Summary The autonomic nerves regulate the functions of visceral tissues. They have chronotropic–inotropic actions on the heart and affect both excitability and conduction within that organ. It is well known that many of the tissues they control have intrinsic activities and reactions not dependent on nerves. This intrinsic ability, however, is not a complete autonomy; it is affected by sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves. The chapter presents the observations of how nerves affect the myogenic reactions of the cardiac pacemaker tissue, the sinoatrial node region, to stretch. It has been assumed that the simultaneous stretch of the nodal region and the stimulation of the cardiac accelerator afferents reveal a potentiating action and that receptor blocking agents obtund the stretch response. Although the stretch superimposed on the acceleration produced by sympathetic nerve stimulation does increase rate somewhat, the two are not even additive. Instead of a potentiation action, the effects of stretch are reduced. The neural effects on a myogenic reaction in the heart are considered to be another integrative function of the autonomic nervous system.
Chile’s democratic road to authoritarianism: From neostructuralist bargain to state of emergency

The ongoing crisis of Latin America’s pink tide seems to confirm the warnings of populist decline that first emerged in mainstream political science in the early years of the twenty-first century. At the heart of this view is a sharp distinction between moderate centre-left governments on a supposed path to progress, and a radical left bound towards economic crisis and authoritarianism. Under almost three decades of near exclusive center-left governance in Chile, as witnessed most recently in the October 2019 state of emergency, the result has not been a gradual and linear path to democratic engagement and progress, but rather the undermining of the country’s democratic institutions; and with the recent electoral victories of right-wing parties and coalitions, also the return of authoritarianism. This democratic decline is directly attributed to the centre-left’s incapacity to adequately meet the demands of the student movement, applying what I call the “neostructuralist bargain” to diffuse the movement’s ambitions to directly participate in educational reform. However, the recent emergence of the Frente Amplio coalition suggests a possible answer to the growing reality of authoritarianism in Chile. Resumen: La via democratica Chilena hacia el autoritarismo: del acuerdo neoestructural al estado de emergencia La actual crisis de la marea rosa de America Latina parece confirmar los argumentos que surgieron por primera vez dentro de la ciencia politica dominante en los primeros anos del siglo XXI que advertian sobre un supuesto declive populista. En el centro de esta vision se encuentra una aguda distincion entre los gobiernos moderados de centro izquierda en un supuesto camino hacia el progreso, y una izquierda radical encaminada hacia la crisis economica y el autoritarismo. Durante cerca de tres decadas de gobierno casi exclusivamente de centro-izquierda en Chile, el resultado no ha sido un camino gradual y lineal hacia el compromiso y el progreso democratico, sino mas bien el debilitamiento de las instituciones democraticas del pais, y con las recientes victorias electorales de partidos y coaliciones de la derecha, tambien el retorno del autoritarismo. Este declive democratico es el resultado directo de la incapacidad de la centro-izquierda para satisfacer adecuadamente las demandas del movimiento estudiantil, aplicando lo que denomino “acuerdo neoestructuralista” para diluir las ambiciones del movimiento de participar de forma directa en la reforma educativa. Sin embargo, el reciente surgimiento de la coalicion Frente Amplio sugiere una posible respuesta al creciente autoritarismo en Chile, mas reciente visto en el estado de emergencia de octubre 2019.
Nondisturbing Quantum Measurement Models

A measurement model is a framework that describes a quantum measurement process. In this article we restrict attention to $MM$s on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Suppose we want to measure an observable $A$ whose outcomes $A_x$ are represented by positive operators (effects) on a Hilbert Space $H$. We call $H$ the base or object system. We interact $H$ with a probe system on another Hilbert space $K$ by means of a quantum channel. The probe system contains a probe (or meter or pointer) observable $F$ whose outcomes $F_x$ are measured by an apparatus that is frequently (but need not be) classical in practice. The $MM$ protocol gives a method for determining the probability of an outcome $A_x$ for any state of $H$ in terms of the outcome $F_x$. The interaction channel usually entangles this state with an initial probe state of $K$ that can be quite complicated. However, if the channel is nondisturbing in a sense that we describe, then the entanglement is considerably simplified. In this article, we give formulas for observables and instruments measured by nondisturbing $MM$s. We begin with a general discussion of nondisturbing operators relative to a quantum context. We present two examples that illustrate this theory in terms of unitary nondisturbing channels.
Imaging of drug mules

Cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and hashish are the primary drugs transported by a body packer, who swallows such packages. A body pusher or stuffer transports drug packages in rectum or vagina. Plain radiography is the primary imaging modality used in the evaluation of concealed drugs and has sensitivity of 85-90%. The imaging features include well-defined opacities in the bowel with crescents of air near ovoid opacities. The imaging signs include double condom sign, halo sign, parallelism sign, and tic tac sign. A low-dose CT is an efficient noninvasive and accurate technique of locating packages internally for all types of concealment.
Disruptions and Adaptations in Family Functioning: A Study of Families’ Experiences with PANS/PANDAS

The current study examined changes in family functioning following the onset of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS)/Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS). A social-ecological and systems framework was used to investigate (1) how families’ day-to-day lives and functioning evolved since the onset of PANS/PANDAS, (2) challenges families faced in raising a child with this condition, (3) changes in family sub-systems, and (4) sources of support. Qualitative research was conducted in two phases: narrative thematic analyses of online parent forum threads followed by semi-structured interviews with nine families. Five primary themes are presented: (a) Child Symptoms and Clinical Course, (b) Family Resources and Institutional Barriers, (c) Close Relationships (sub-themes: family sub-systems and support network – extended family and friends), (d) Routines and Daily Life, and (e) Family Emotional Well-Being. It was found that depending on the state of the child (i.e., well or in flare/exacerbation), the family’s level of functioning fluctuated. Family functioning was also found to be impacted by lack of support from the medical community, child’s school system, family and friends. The marital relationship was found to be greatly impacted, in addition to strains in the parent-child and sibling relationships. Analyses revealed that the severity of the neuropsychiatric symptoms was a particularly challenging aspect of PANS/PANDAS with many families using trauma metaphors to describe their experience. The impact on the emotional well-being of the family entails a level of suffering that diverges from the literature on the impact of other childhood chronic illness on family functioning.
Multi-stage Training with Improved Negative Contrast for Neural Passage Retrieval

In the context of neural passage retrieval, we study three promising techniques: synthetic data generation, negative sampling, and fusion. We systematically investigate how these techniques contribute to the performance of the retrieval system and how they complement each other. We propose a multi-stage framework comprising of pre-training with synthetic data, fine-tuning with labeled data, and negative sampling at both stages. We study six negative sampling strategies and apply them to the fine-tuning stage and, as a noteworthy novelty, to the synthetic data that we use for pre-training. Also, we explore fusion methods that combine negatives from different strategies. We evaluate our system using two passage retrieval tasks for open-domain QA and using MS MARCO. Our experiments show that augmenting the negative contrast in both stages is effective to improve passage retrieval accuracy and, importantly, they also show that synthetic data generation and negative sampling have additive benefits. Moreover, using the fusion of different kinds allows us to reach performance that establishes a new state-of-the-art level in two of the tasks we evaluated.
Nuevos roles de los docentes en la educación superior: hacia un nuevo perfil y modelo de competencias con integración de las TIC

Este articulo presenta una aproximacion literaria sobre el debate acerca de cuales son las competencias necesarias que le permitiran a los docentes del sistema de educacion superior superar los obstaculos para dar un salto cualitativo hacia un mayor aprovechamiento de las TIC en los procesos de aprendizaje y ensenanza. Para estos fines el autor inicia con unas reflexiones en torno al contexto actual de la educacion superior en el marco de las TIC, por otro lado se realiza un analisis comparativo sobre los distintos enfoques de las competencias, modelo de ensenanza y perfil requerido para los docentes en la educacion superior. A manera de conclusion se analizan estrategias para superar los obstaculos que no han permitido una mayor expansion de las TIC a partir de una vision sistemica
The practice of nurse-midwifery in the era of managed care: reports from the field.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to describe the reports of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) about how changes in the financing and organization of health care in the late 1990s influenced their ability to serve vulnerable populations and provide a woman-centered, prevention-oriented midwifery model of care. Methods: A 13-page survey was mailed to all CNMs ever certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (N = 6365) in July 1998. The survey included closed- and open-ended questions. A total of 2405 CNMs responded; of these, 2089 were in clinical practice during the study period (1997–98) and 82% of the 2089 (N = 1704) wrote responses to the open-ended questions and were included in the qualitative database. We present responses to the closed-ended questions about seven domains of practice and elaborate on three major themes identified through content analysis of the qualitative data. Results: The majority (57%) reported that the changes in the larger health care environment had influenced their practices during 1997–98. The effects most frequently reported were 1) increased client loads (31%); 2) altered style of practice (30%); 3) inability to serve the same populations; (20%); 4) decreased client loads (20%); and 5) increased administrative duties (17%). Three major themes were identified and elaborated upon in the qualitative data: 1) challenges to the style of midwifery practice related to the managed care environment; 2) the loss of socially and economically at-risk women from CNMs' client base; and 3) barriers to high quality and comprehensive services for women. Conclusions: During the late 1990s as managed care was expanding and health systems were merging, a significant number of CNMs in the field described threats to their ability to sustain economically viable practices and a style of care consistent with the woman-centered, prevention-oriented midwifery model.
Phosphoglycolate phosphatase and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in red cells of normal and anemic subjects

Red cell phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) were investigated in normal and anemic patients and rabbits. In hemolytic anemia and blood-loss anemia, characterized by a young red cell population, there was an increase in both phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels. In aplastic anemia, the phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity was normal, but the 2,3-diphosphoglycerate values were nonetheless increased. Thus, no relationship was found between phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels. The lack of correlation between the activity of phosphoglycolate phosphatase and 2,3-DPG levels suggests that modulation of phosphoglycolate phosphatase activity does not control the level of 2,3-DPG in erythrocytes.
EVIDENCE FOR THE OCCURRENCE OF A COMMON PENTANUCLEOTIDE SEQUENCE IN THE STRUCTURES OF TRANSFER RIBONUCLEIC ACIDS.

Transfer ribonucleic acids are a mixture of different molecular species of similar size (1). They can be distinguished by the ability of each of them to accept only one amino acid and transfer it to protein (1). The elucidation of the structures of tRNAsl is of considerable interest in view of the highly specific nature of these reactions. It has been shown that the 3’.hydroxyl terminal sequence, the amino acid acceptor end, of all functional tRNA molecules is -pCpCpA (2, 3). The 5’-phosphate terminal was found to be predominantly pGp(4). Aside from these similarities, the structures of different tRNA molecules seem to vary significantly, as indicated by structural studies performed on bulk (I) as well as purified tRNA preparations (5). The nucleotide composition of tRNA is characterized by the presence of several minor components in addition to the four major nucleotides. The minor nucleotides include pseudouridylic acid (tip) and ribothymidylic acid (Tp), as well as other methylated derivatives of purine and pyrimidine nucleotides (6, 7). Each of the purified RNAs studied has a specific content of minor nucleotides, which occupy definite positions along the RNA chain (5). The role of the minor nucleotides in the structure and function of tRNA is still little understood. This paper presents evidence that strongly suggests that the sequence -GpTp$pCpGp-, including two minor nucleotides, is part of the structure of all tRNh molecules. This sequence gives the tetranucleotide Tp$pCpGp on digestion of the RNAs with RNase Tl. The isolation of this tetranucleotide from digests of purified alanine-, valine-, and tyrosine-tRNAs, as well as from bulk tRNA of yeast, Escherichia co& and rat liver, will be described.