cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methods of smoking cessation.

Smoking-cessation treatment consists of three phases: preparation, intervention, and maintenance. Preparation aims to increase the smoker's motivation to quit and to build confidence that he or she can be successful. Intervention can take any number of forms (or a combination of them) to help smokers to achieve abstinence. Maintenance, including support, coping strategies, and substitute behaviors, is necessary for permanent abstinence. Although most smokers who successfully quit do so on their own, many use cessation programs at some point during their smoking history. Moreover, many people act on the advice of a health professional in deciding to quit. Some are also aided by a smoking-cessation kit from a public or voluntary agency, a book, a tape, or an over-the-counter product. Still others receive help from mass-media campaigns, such as the Great American Smokeout, or community programs. Counseling, voluntary and commercial clinics, nicotine replacement strategies, hypnosis, acupuncture, and behavioral programs are other methods used by smokers to break the habit. Programs that include multiple treatments are more successful than single interventions. The most cost-effective strategy for smoking cessation for most smokers is self-care, which includes quitting on one's own and might also include acting on the advice of a health profession or using an aid such as a quit-smoking guide. Heavier, more addicted smokers are more likely to seek out formal programs after several attempts to quit. Many people can quit smoking, but staying off cigarettes requires maintenance, support, and additional techniques, such as relapse prevention. Physicians, dentists, and other health professionals can provide important assistance to their patients who smoke. Quit rates can be improved if clinicians provide more help (e.g., counseling, support) than just simple advice and warnings. Clinicians also play an important role in providing nicotine replacement products such as nicotine gum or transdermal patches. These products are particularly useful for smokers who show evidence of strong physiologic addiction to nicotine. Attitudes toward smoking have shifted dramatically. In the 1950s, fewer than 50% of American adults believed that cigarette smoking caused lung cancer. In 1986, this proportion had increased to 92%. A majority of the public favors policies restricting smoking in public places and worksites. Half of all Americans who ever smoked had stopped smoking by 1988. Of those who continue to smoke, more than 70% report that they would like to quit. By increasing their knowledge about smoking-cessation methods, health professionals can support and encourage the large majority of smokers who want to quit.
Pyrroloquinoline Quinone-Dependent Enzymatic Bioanode: Incorporation of the Substituted Polyaniline Conducting Polymer as a Mediator

One of the main technological issues with enzymatic biofuel cells and biosensors is improving the electron transfer between the enzyme and the current collector to improve current densities. In this study, we show the use of a conducting polymer to mediate pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent enzymatic bioelectrocatalysis. A self-doped polyaniline (PANi) film is electropolymerized on a Toray carbon paper electrode surface to covalently bond enzymes to this three-dimensional interface. Sulfonic acid groups are introduced into the PANi backbone structure to increase the polymer conductivity at neutral pH via a self-doping process, and the carboxyl groups can be activated to covalently bond to enzymes. The electropolymerization of 2-methoxyaniline-5-sulfonic acid and 3-aminobenzoic acid is optimized with respect to the rate of the bioelectrocatalytic conversion of enzyme substrates. Comparing this PANi conducting copolymer enzyme immobilization technique with the hydrophobically modified Nafion encapsulation-b...
Effect of partially purified B- and T-lymphocyte inhibitory factors on the mitogenic and chemotactic responses.

Abstract Avian lymphocyte inhibitory factor (LyIF) is produced by thymic (T) and bursal (B) lymphocytes following sensitization of chicks to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Our previous studies showed that maximum activities for both B- and T-LyIF were within a molecular weight range of 10,000 to 50,000 daltons (LyIF-III). These results led us to question what other functional differences may exist. The chemotactic and mitogenic properties of B- and T-LyIF-III were investigated. Neither B-nor T-LyIF-III had chemotactic properties whereas both lymphokines significantly inhibited the uptake of [3 H]-thymidine in the presence of phytohemagglutinin-M. Inhibition of migration by LyIF-III may be a reflection of LyIF-III inhibition of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis.
Relationship of Renal “Net Acid” Excretion to Titratable Ash-Acidity (Ash-TA) in Diet and Feces.

SummaryTitratable ash-acidity (ash-TA) has been described as an acid-base parameter which is based solely on mineral composition and may therefore be defined strictly in terms of biologically stable chemical elements. Renal “net acid” values were shown to consist of two components: 1) the urinary ash-TA value, which varies markedly with diet composition and remains generally equal to the value for net absorption of dietary ash-TA, and 2) a relatively small and essentially constant quantity equal to the urinary organic anions value minus the values for urinary organic sulfur, organic phosphorus and organic cations. Most of the second component was accounted for by the organic anions value, so that the renal “net acid” values were generally slightly higher than the corresponding urinary ash-TA values. The renal “net acid” values nevertheless remained closely correlated with the corresponding urinary ash-TA values and hence with the values for net absorption of dietary ash-TA. No basis was found for relating...
Trap and Transfer. Two-Step Hole Injection Across the Sb2S3/CuSCN Interface in Solid-State Solar Cells

In solid-state semiconductor-sensitized solar cells, commonly known as extremely thin absorber (ETA) or solid-state quantum-dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSCs), transfer of photogenerated holes from the absorber species to the p-type hole conductor plays a critical role in the charge separation process. Using Sb2S3 (absorber) and CuSCN (hole conductor), we have constructed ETA solar cells exhibiting a power conversion efficiency of 3.3%. The hole transfer from excited Sb2S3 into CuSCN, which limits the overall power conversion efficiency of these solar cells, is now independently studied using transient absorption spectroscopy. In the Sb2S3 absorber layer, photogenerated holes are rapidly localized on the sulfur atoms of the crystal lattice, forming a sulfide radical (S–•) species. This trapped hole is transferred from the Sb2S3 absorber to the CuSCN hole conductor with an exponential time constant of 1680 ps. This process was monitored through the spectroscopic signal seen for the S–• species in Sb2S3, pr...
A Risk Based Paradigm and Model for Unmanned Aerial Systems in the National Airspace

A major focus of current unmanned systems operations is assessing the inherent risk associated with a mission. Efforts to integrate unmanned systems into the national airspace require manufacturers be able to calculate the risk of a mission in terms of human safety. Threats to human safety from midair collisions and ground strikes are the focus of the risk model. The projects intent is to assist in determining applications that leverage the strengths of current unmanned aircraft technology while mitigating the weaknesses so as to meet or exceed the safety and economic viability of manned aircraft. The validity of the risk model is demonstrated by comparison to historical data when available. The intended use of the tool is discussed and risk assessments are presented for several example scenarios. Resources for gathering the required information are surveyed and material is developed to aid a general audience in performing a risk assessment.
Triplet excited state energies and phosphorescence spectra of (bacterio)chlorophylls.

(Bacterio)Chlorophyll ((B)Chl) molecules play a major role in photosynthetic light-harvesting proteins, and the knowledge of their triplet state energies is essential to understand the mechanisms of photodamage and photoprotection, as the triplet excitation energy of (B)Chl molecules can readily generate highly reactive singlet oxygen. The triplet state energies of 10 natural chlorophyll (Chl a, b, c2, d) and bacteriochlorophyll (BChl a, b, c, d, e, g) molecules and one bacteriopheophytin (BPheo g) have been directly determined via their phosphorescence spectra. Phosphorescence of four molecules (Chl c2, BChl e and g, BPheo g) was characterized for the first time. Additionally, the relative phosphorescence to fluorescence quantum yield for each molecule was determined. The measurements were performed at 77K using solvents providing a six-coordinate environment of the Mg2+ ion, which allows direct comparison of these (B)Chls. Density functional calculations of the triplet state energies show good correlati...
A new species of Tapinocyba (Araneae, Linyphiidae) with a redescription of Tapinocyba minuta (Emerton)

The identity of Tapinocyba minuta is clarified by examination of the type-series and the species is redescribed and illustrated. Tapinocyba prima new species, a distinct species previously confused with T. minuta, is also described and illustrated. Collection data, habitat and distribution are given for the two species. Tapinocyba prima new species has a widespread northern distribution with possible disjunct populations found at high elevations on the East Coast, while T. minuta has a more restricted distribution along a trans-continental boreal corridor.
Determinants of upper esophageal sphincter pressure in dogs

Chronic experiments were done on six dogs fitted with EMG electrodes on pharyngeal and esophageal musculature. Electromyographic activity of the cricopharyngeus was recorded in awake and sedated animals with and without manometric recordings as well as during esophageal distension. Intraluminal upper esophageal sphincter (UES) pressure had two distinct components; active contraction accompanied by cricopharyngeal EMG activity and passive elasticity that persisted in the absence of EMG activity. Between swallows, the cricopharyngeal EMG activity patterns observed were of either tonic activity, no activity, or phasic activity with inspiratory bursts. The activity level was markedly affected by anesthesia, phonating, whining, panting, level of alertness, or changes in head posture. A brisk UES contraction was elicited in response to passage of the manometric assembly and to intraesophageal balloon distension. Persistent EMG augmentation after stationing of the manometric sensor suggested that intraluminal manometry tends to exaggerate resting sphincter pressure. We conclude that electrical activity of the cricopharyngeus, and by inference UES pressure, is markedly affected by many variables that are difficult to control during clinical or experimental determinations of UES pressure.
Rousseau on Education, Freedom, and Judgment. By Denise Schaeffer. (University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2014. Pp. viii, 232. $69.95.)

Jean‐Jacques Rousseau has been accused of many things—of naivete; of inspiring and providing justification for the French Revolution and its accompanying Reign of Terror; of disregard or disdain fo...
Kinematic and vorticity analyses of the western Idaho shear zone, USA

The western Idaho shear zone (WISZ) is a Late Cretaceous, mid-crustal exposure of intense shear localized in the Cordillera of western North America. This shear zone is characterized by transpressional fabrics, i.e., downdip stretching lineations and vertical foliations. Folded and boudinaged late-stage dikes indicate a dextral sense of shear. The vorticity-normal section is identified by examining the three-dimensional shape preferred orientation of feldspar populations and the intragranular lattice rotation in quartz grains in deformed quartzites. The short axes of the shape preferred orientation ellipsoid gather on a plane perpendicular to the vorticity vector. In western Idaho this plane dips gently to the west, suggesting a vertical vorticity vector. Similarly, sample-scale crystallographic vorticity axis analysis of quartzite tectonites provides an independent assessment of vorticity and also indicates a subvertical vorticity vector. Constraints on the magnitude of vorticity are provided by field fabrics and porphyroclasts with strain shadows. Together these data indicate that the McCall segment of the WISZ displays dextral transpression with a vertical vorticity vector and an angle of oblique convergence ≥60°. North and south of McCall, movement is coeval on the Owyhee segment of the WISZ and the Ahsahka shear zone. Together, the kinematics of these shear zones are consistent with northeast-southwest–directed convergence. Plate motion in this orientation acting on a curved plate boundary could have produced pure shear–dominated transpression in the Owyhee (α = 40°) and McCall (α = 60°) segments of the WISZ, while causing reverse-sense shearing (α = 90°) in the Ahsahka shear zone.
Evidence that fresh weight measurement is imprecise for reporting the effect of plant growth-promoting (rhizo)bacteria on growth promotion of crop plants

Eight greenhouse experiments were performed to compare the effect of seven plant growth-promoting (rhizo)bacteria (PGPR/PGPB) on fresh and dry weights of four crop plants. This has been done to validate if fresh weight measurements of plant variables can serve as reliable values when reporting the effect of these bacteria on plant growth. These experiments show that the growth promotion effects by the tested PGPR/PGPB, including Bacillus amyloliquefaciens GB03, Bacillus subtilis IN-937B, Bacillus altitudinis INR7, and Pseudomonas mandelii 89B-27 in corn and cucumber and Azospirillum brasilense Cd, A. brasilense Sp 245, and Azospirillum lipoferum Br 17 in pepper and tomato, varied significantly between fresh and dry weights of shoot, root, and/or whole plant in the repeated greenhouse experiments. These results support our hypothesis that using fresh weight determination for assessing plant growth promotion by beneficial bacteria is inherently faulty. Therefore, it is recommended that dry weight determination rather than fresh weight determination is used for plant growth promotion tests.
Heat of hydration prediction for blended cements

Prediction and control of concrete temperature rise due to cement hydration is of great significance for mass concrete structures since large temperature gradients between the surface and the core of the structure can lead to cracking thus reducing durability of the structure. Cement replacement with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is frequently used to reduce the concrete temperature rise. Several models have been proposed for predicting heat release of blended cements; however, none of them address incorporation of metakaolin into the mixture. Isothermal calorimetry measurements, based on statistical experimental design, were taken on pastes incorporating combinations of SCMs and chemical admixtures. The data were then used to develop equations to predict the total heat reduction with the incorporation of chemical admixtures and SCMs. Analysis of the calorimetry data indicated that chemical admixtures do not have a significant effect on heat evolution beyond 12 h. SCMs investigated in this study (fly ash, slag, silica fume and metakaolin), on the other hand, were found to have a significant effect at hydration ages of 12, 24, 48 and 72 h.
Two New Tritylodontids (Synapsida, Cynodontia, Mammaliamorpha) from the Upper Jurassic, Southwestern Mongolia

ABSTRACT Two new genera and species of Tritylodontidae, Shartegodon altai and Nuurtherium baruunensis, are described and compared with other known tritylodontids. The new taxa are represented by two partial skulls and, in the case of Nuurtherium, postcranial elements. They were collected from the lower part of the Ulan Malgait Sequence (Upper Jurassic) in the Shar Teg locality, Gobi-Altai Aimag, southwestern Mongolia. The upper postcanine teeth of these two genera have unique cusp formulae that differentiate them from other tritylodontids. As has been suggested for most tritylodontids in general, these two new genera may have been herbivorous.
Causes and Risk Factors of Osteoporosis

Throughout the life span, bone undergoes periodic remodeling, a dual process of bone formation and resorption. Physiologic and hormonal mechanisms direct this balance of bone gain and bone loss through the action of two types of bone cells—osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Osteoporosis is caused by the excessive breakdown of bone structure, inadequate bone formation, or an imbalance in the activity between osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
Urinary diversion in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration

Between October, 1969, and April, 1981, gynecologic oncologists at the University of Alabama Medical Center in Birmingham have performed 119 pelvic exenterations. One hundred fifteen of these patients had a concurrent supravesical urinary diversion. Fifty-six patients (48.7%) had an anterior exenteration and 59 patients (51.3%) had a total exenteration. An ileal segment was used as a conduit in 97 patients while a segment of transverse colon was used in 16 patients. Two patients had sigmoid conduits. Eighty-five patients (73.9%) had the intestinal anastomosis and conduit constructed with gastrointestinal staplers. Stapler use shortened the mean operating time for the exenterative procedure by approximately 30%. No increase in postoperative gastrointestinal complications was noted. Urinary diversion performed as part of a pelvic exenteration has been associated with short- and long-term complications. The use of ureteral stents and the gastrointestinal staplers shortens the procedure without predisposing the patient to major urologic complications. The use of a segment of unirradiated bowel (transverse colon) in conjunction with these techniques constitutes the preferred method of supravesical urinary diversion in patients undergoing a pelvic exenteration.
Pregnancy after Prosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement: How Do We Monitor Prosthetic Valvular Function during Pregnancy?

Background. With modern medicine, many women after structural heart repair are deciding to experience pregnancy. There is a need for further study to identify normal echocardiographic parameters to better assess prosthetic valvular function in pregnancy. In addition, a multidisciplinary approach is essential in managing pregnant patients with complex cardiac conditions. Case. A 22-year-old nulliparous woman with an aortic valve replacement 18 months prior to her pregnancy presented to prenatal care at 20-week gestation. During her prenatal care, serial echocardiography showed a significant increase in the mean gradient across the prosthetic aortic valve. Multidisciplinary management and a serial echocardiography played an integral role in her care that resulted in a successful spontaneous vaginal delivery without complications. Conclusion. Further characterization of the normal echocardiographic parameters in pregnant patients with prosthetic valves is critical to optimize prenatal care for this patient population. This case report is novel in that serial echocardiograms were obtained throughout prenatal care, which showed significant changes across the prosthetic aortic valve. Teaching Points. Further study is needed to identify normal echocardiographic parameters to best assess prosthetic valvular function in pregnancy. Multidisciplinary management is encouraged to optimize prenatal care for women with prosthetic aortic valve replacements.
The National Trauma Data Bank story for emergency department thoracotomy: How old is too old?

Abstract Background The fastest growing segment of the American population is the elderly (>65 years). This change in demographics also is being seen in trauma centers. Emergency department thoracotomy is utilized in an attempt to restore circulation for patients arriving in extremis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between clinical variables, particularly age, and outcomes for injured patients receiving an emergency department thoracotomy. Methods Using the National Trauma Data Bank for years 2008–2012, observations with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes for exploratory thoracotomy were identified. Emergency department thoracotomy was defined as any observation that occurred at a time to thoracotomy less than the total time spent in the emergency department thoracotomy, and within 15 minutes of arrival. Mechanisms of injury, demographic data, and injuries were analyzed for predictors of survival and mortality rates. Mortality rates were determined for each decade and year of life. Results There were 11,380 observations for thoracotomy identified. Of these, 2,519 were emergency department thoracotomy, with the majority (n = 2,026, 80% observations) performed for penetrating wounds. Mortality rates ranged from 80% to 100% for each decade of life. Mortality was 100% for patients >57 years old with either penetrating or blunt mechanisms of injury. Conclusion Emergency department thoracotomy offered no survival benefit for patients older than 57 years of age. These data suggest that emergency department thoracotomy performed in elderly patients may be futile.
A Progressive Approach to Teaching Analytics in the Marketing Curriculum

With the emerging use of analytics tools and methodologies in marketing, marketing educators have provided students training and experiences beyond the soft skills associated with understanding con...
Automated Pitch Convergence Improves Learning in a Social, Teachable Robot for Middle School Mathematics

Pedagogical agents have the potential to provide not only cognitive support to learners but socio-emotional support through social behavior. Socio-emotional support can be a critical element to a learner’s success, influencing their self-efficacy and motivation. Several social behaviors have been explored with pedagogical agents including facial expressions, movement, and social dialogue; social dialogue has especially been shown to positively influence interactions. In this work, we explore the role of paraverbal social behavior or social behavior in the form of paraverbal cues such as tone of voice and intensity. To do this, we focus on the phenomenon of entrainment, where individuals adapt their paraverbal features of speech to one another. Paraverbal entrainment in human-human studies has been found to be correlated with rapport and learning. In a study with 72 middle school students, we evaluate the effects of entrainment with a teachable robot, a pedagogical agent that learners teach how to solve ratio problems. We explore how a teachable robot which entrains and introduces social dialogue influences rapport and learning; we compare with two baseline conditions: a social condition, in which the robot speaks socially, and a non-social condition, in which the robot neither entrains nor speaks socially. We find that a robot that does entrain and speaks socially results in significantly more learning.
The Relevance of Regulation: Teaching Public Affairs Students in Applied Fields

AbstractTeaching about public affairs can be difficult in applied programs of study. Undergraduate students in applied fields tend to have more utilitarian perspectives on higher education, valuing...
Information and Digital Computing: Too Much With Us, Near and Far?

Publisher Summary Currently, the most powerful computer system for physical modeling purposes is the CRAY-1, which has a production cost of about three million dollars each. A moderately fortunate and serious physical modeling researcher currently gets to use about 3% of a CRAY-1 on the average over time, that is, the cost of modeling hardware is comparable to the modeler's annual salary plus overhead, which is not in retrospect surprising. At the Livermore Laboratory, those in the S-1 Project are currently building a set of computers, each one of which is comparable in physical modeling power to a CRAY-1 but whose incremental production costs are an order-of-magnitude lower, because of the past half-decade's technological advances. The huge gain in cost-effectiveness associated with such minimal redundancy is striking; on the other hand, it is intrinsically limited to computer memories, and CPU logic may have to be duplicated or triplicated to become comparably robust against all first contingencies.
Problem-solving, bidirectional naming, and the development of verbal repertoires.

We often solve problems by engaging in mediating strategies, such as talking to ourselves. In order to accurately use and respond to these strategies, we must “understand” or react appropriately to the products of our own verbal behavior. The term bidirectional naming has been used to describe the i
Standard Boron Solutions for Neutron Absorption Measurements

A procedure is described for preparing deuterated bork acid solutions for use in the absolute determination of the cross section for absorption of thermal neutrons and for reference standards. The suitability of these solutions as standards is discussed in terms of the purity of the reagents, the reproducibility of preparation, and the composition of the boric oxide used in the preparation. (auth)
The Anatomy of an Interactive Graphics Display Project: An Engineering Tool

After experimental use of an interactive display system (IBM 360/75 and 2250), a project was initiated at the end of 1967 to develop a practical service for engineering use. Since the predominant amount of engineering work was on the CDC 6600 at the Boeing Commercial Airplane Division, that computer system was chosen to be the base. An interesting display system (Adage AGT-30 computer, hybrid array and scope) was chosen. One of the primary objectives of the project, in contrast to other display projects aimed at a particular application, is to make interactive display services available easily through any FORTRAN program on the CDC 6600. The progress of the project from the setting of design objectives through the design, evaluation of displays, sub-operating system design for both the display and 6600 to the initial use of the system will be covered candidly with an attempt to discuss errors and successes both technical and management.
The Effortless Assessment of Risk States (EARS) Tool: An Interpersonal Approach to Mobile Sensing.

Background: To predict and prevent mental health crises, we must develop new approaches that can provide a dramatic advance in the effectiveness, timeliness, and scalability of our interventions. However, current methods of predicting mental health crises (eg, clinical monitoring, screening) usually fail on most, if not all, of these criteria. Luckily for us, 77% of Americans carry with them an unprecedented opportunity to detect risk states and provide precise life-saving interventions. Smartphones present an opportunity to empower individuals to leverage the data they generate through their normal phone use to predict and prevent mental health crises. Objective: To facilitate the collection of high-quality, passive mobile sensing data, we built the Effortless Assessment of Risk States (EARS) tool to enable the generation of predictive machine learning algorithms to solve previously intractable problems and identify risk states before they become crises. Methods: The EARS tool captures multiple indices of a person’s social and affective behavior via their naturalistic use of a smartphone. Although other mobile data collection tools exist, the EARS tool places a unique emphasis on capturing the content as well as the form of social communication on the phone. Signals collected include facial expressions, acoustic vocal quality, natural language use, physical activity, music choice, and geographical location. Critically, the EARS tool collects these data passively, with almost no burden on the user. We programmed the EARS tool in Java for the Android mobile platform. In building the EARS tool, we concentrated on two main considerations: (1) privacy and encryption and (2) phone use impact. Results: In a pilot study (N=24), participants tolerated the EARS tool well, reporting minimal burden. None of the participants who completed the study reported needing to use the provided battery packs. Current testing on a range of phones indicated that the tool consumed approximately 15% of the battery over a 16-hour period. Installation of the EARS tool caused minimal change in the user interface and user experience. Once installation is completed, the only difference the user notices is the custom keyboard. Conclusions: The EARS tool offers an innovative approach to passive mobile sensing by emphasizing the centrality of a person’s social life to their well-being. We built the EARS tool to power cutting-edge research, with the ultimate goal of leveraging individual big data to empower people and enhance mental health.
Migration, Jobs, and Real Exchange Rates in the Philippines

This study tests whether exchange rate appreciation due to migration is tempered by the hiring of part-time workers. Quarterly data from 1994 to 2015 for the Philippines are employed. We find that not only increase in remittances, but also increase in migration appreciates real exchange rate. The results also show that underemployment tends to depreciate the exchange rate, which implies that the hiring structure does have a role on the long run real effective exchange rate.
Zirconium-catalyzed hydroarsination with primary arsines

Abstract The zirconium compound, [κ5-N,N,N,N,C-(Me3SiNCH2CH2)2NCH2CH2NSiMe2CH2]Zr (1) , catalyzes the hydroarsination of alkenes with primary arsines, previously unknown substrates for this transformation. Irradiation in the ultraviolet, near-UV, or visible with commercially-available light sources are critical for this catalysis. Styrene substrates are unreactive without irradiation, but Michael acceptors give products in the dark or under irradiation with any source. These observations suggest that the zirconium arsenido intermediate engages in insertion based hydroarsination under photolysis, but the arsenido ligand is nucleophilic without photoexcitation.
Use of Companion Diagnostics (CDx) and Predictive Biomarkers for Cancer Targeted Therapy: Clinical Applications in Precision Medicine

In the field of oncology therapeutics, biomarker assays play an increasingly important role from discovery research to patient management. Companion Diagnostic (CDx) assays play an important role in precision medicine, having a specific clinical utility to aid in the identification of patients eligible to receive a therapeutic treatment, or to predict which patients may respnd to a targeted therapy. CDx assays may also affect the design of clinical trials, which can lead to higher patient response rates when the right patients are selected for treatment. CDx assays can also accelerate the introduction of new therapeutics, enabling a smaller number of patients to be enrolled in studies, reducing the number of patients exposed to investigational or approved therapeutics, thereby decreasing the chance of side effects. With the introduction of immuno-oncology drugs such as anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapeutics, biomarker assays have become even more critically important in understanding the interactions between the tumor cells and immune response, and predicting patient responses. This chapter will review the history of CDx and present a high-level overview of the development path of CDx. It will also provide a survey of current FDA-approved or FDA-cleared CDx assays, examine some of the challenges in CDx development, and explore technologies and assay types applicable to CDx important in the next generation of oncology therapeutics.
High-Tc superconductor in an a.c. field

The behavior of high-Tc oxides in an alternating field is studied. The short coherence length and the layered structure require an unconventional microscopic analysis. The complex conductivityδ(Ω, k) is evaluated. The frequency and temperature dependences of the impedance are obtained (in the region of small frequencies). The effect of impurities is discussed. The microwave properties of the proximity system Sh-N (Sh and N are high-Tc and normal films, respectively) are discussed.
Asymmetric Synthesis of the Diterpenoid Marine Toxin (+)-Acetoxycrenulide

An enantioselective route to the marine toxin (+)-acetoxycrenulide is described. The early stages of the synthesis feature the conversion of (R)-citronellol into a butenolide whose sole stereogenic center is provided by the terpenic alcohol. Three contiguous chiral carbon atoms are subsequently set in the requisite absolute configuration by conjugate addition of an enantiopure allylphosphonamide reagent. The resulting product is transformed during several steps into a primary selenoxide whose thermal activation in dimethylacetamide at 220 °C promotes sequential 1,2-elimination and Claisen rearrangement. The cyclooctenone core of the target is formed in this step. The final stages of the synthesis involve a series of fully stereoselective reactions including Simmons−Smith cyclopropanation and controlled Dibal-H reduction. The naturally occurring dextrorotatory enantiomer of acetoxycrenulide was ultimately acquired.
Wanted: HI-RES, surgery-free brain interfaces: DARPA aims to develop wearable devices that let soldiers communicate directly with machines - [News]

DARPA's Next-Generation Nonsurgical Neurotechnology (N3) program has awarded funding to six groups attempting to build brain-machine interfaces that match the performance of implanted electrodes without requiring surgery.
Thoracolumbar Evaluation in the Low-Risk Trauma Patient: A Pilot Study Towards Development of a Clinical Decision Rule to Avoid Unnecessary Imaging in the Emergency Department

Abstract Background Thoracolumbar (TL) injury is a common finding in the severely injured multi-trauma patient. However, the incidence and pattern of TL injury in patients with milder trauma is unclear. Objective The aim of this study was to collect and analyze evidence for the development of a clinical decision rule (CDR) to evaluate the TL spine in patients with non-severe blunt trauma and avoid dedicated imaging in low-risk cases. Methods Adult patients with blunt trauma who presented to a major academic center (May 2016 to October 2017) and received dedicated imaging of the TL spine were included. Exclusion criteria consisted of any coexisting condition preventing the acquisition of history or examination. The primary endpoint is TL spine injury requiring orthopedic evaluation, bracing/orthosis, or surgery. Preliminary CDR derivation was performed with recursive partitioning. Results Of 4612 patients screened, 1049 (22.7%) met inclusion criteria. Thirty-six (3.4%) patients were found to have TL spine injury, of which 88.9% received spinal bracing, orthosis, or surgery. Absence of midline tenderness conveyed the highest negative predictive value, followed by a non-severe mechanism of injury, lack of neurologic examination findings, and age Conclusions In certain lower-risk blunt trauma patients
FASTING-MIMICKING DIET REDUCES RISK FACTORS FOR AGING-RELATED DISEASES IN PRECLINICAL AND CLINICAL STUDIES

Prolonged fasting promotes stress resistance, but its effects on longevity are poorly understood. Calorie restriction or major dietary composition changes can have profound effects on healthy aging but the inability of many subjects to adhere to chronic and extreme diets together with the potential of adverse effects limit their application. Fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) are effective in increasing health and lifespan, possibly by inducing stem cell-based regeneration, or as therapies in mouse models of a variety of diseases. FMDs reduce cancer incidence/progression, modulate the immune response, reduce immuno-senescence, ameliorate or reverse disease progression of multiple sclerosis, Type I and Type II diabetes, and reverse inflammatory bowel disease pathology. In a randomized clinical trial, markers/risk factors for metabolic syndrome and other age-related diseases were favorably impacted after completion of 3 FMD cycles. These effects were larger in participants at risk for age-related diseases. Conclusions: We conclude that the FMD was safe and feasible in rodent and human studies. Larger studies on patients with diagnosed diseases are necessary to determine its impact on diabetes and cardiovascular disease treatment.
Virtual Gang based Scheduling of Real-Time Tasks on Multicore Platforms.

We propose a virtual-gang based parallel real-time task scheduling approach for multicore platforms. Our approach is based on the notion of a virtual-gang, which is a group of parallel real-time tasks that are statically linked and scheduled together by a gang scheduler. We present a light-weight intra-gang synchronization framework, called RTG-Sync, and virtual gang formation algorithms that provide strong temporal isolation and high real-time schedulability in scheduling real-time tasks on multicore. We evaluate our approach both analytically, with generated tasksets against state-of-the-art approaches, and empirically with a case-study involving real-world workloads on a real embedded multicore platform. The results show that our approach provides simple but powerful compositional analysis framework, achieves better analytic schedulability, especially when the effect of interference is considered, and is a practical solution for COTS multicore platforms.
Correlation of pre-exposure prophylaxis adherence to a mental health diagnosis or experience of childhood trauma in high-risk youth:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)/emtricitabine is 99% effective in preventing HIV when taken daily. Young men/transgender women of color who have sex with me...
The utility of magnetic resonance imaging in early-stage breast cancer survivors-An institutional experience and literature review

The role of breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the screening of breast cancer survivors with remaining breast tissue is not well studied. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of screening breast MRI in a cohort of breast cancer survivors. A population of patients with history of stage I-IIIa breast cancer and ≥1 MRI a year or later from diagnosis between 2006-2008 were identified using the National Comprehensive Cancer Network data base from two large Boston-area cancer centers. Patient and disease characteristics were obtained from the data base, and medical records were reviewed to identify the index MRI (first eligible), indications, and two-year outcomes. Overall, 647 patients had breast MRI scans during the study period including 342 eligible patients whose index MRIs were done for breast screening purposes. 47/342 (13.7%) were abnormal, and 3.8% (13/342) underwent biopsy, resulting in the detection of 3 cases of locoregional recurrence or new primary breast cancer (0.9%, 95% CI = 0.2%-2.5%). Of 295 patients with a normal index screening MRI, 12 had a breast cancer recurrence diagnosed within 2 years (4.1% 95%CI = 2.1%-7.0%), and 5 of these recurrences were limited to MRI-screened breast tissue. No statistically significant difference in the rate of 2-year locoregional or distant recurrence was observed between patients with an abnormal screening MRI and those with a normal scan. Adjunct single breast MRI surveillance in a general population of breast cancer survivors one year after diagnosis detected few recurrences, and its effect on short-term outcomes was unclear.
The critical care literature 2019.

Abstract An emergency physician (EP) is often the first health care provider to evaluate, resuscitate, and manage a critically ill patient. In recent years, the annual hours of critical care delivered in emergency departments across the United States has steadily increased. From 2006 to 2014, emergency department (ED) visits for critically ill patients increased approximately 80%. In addition to seeing more critically ill patients, EPs are often tasked with providing critical care long beyond the initial resuscitation period. In fact, more than 50% of ED patients that require admission to the ICU remain in the ED for more than 6 h. Prolonged ED wait times for critically ill patients to be transferred to the ICU is associated with increased hospital, 30-day, and 90-day mortality. It is during these early hours of critical illness, while the patient is in the ED, where lives can be saved or lost. Therefore, it is important for the EP to be knowledgeable about recent developments in resuscitation and critical care medicine. This review summarizes important articles published in 2019 pertaining to the resuscitation and care of select critically ill patients. We chose these articles based on our opinion of the importance of the study findings and their application to emergency medicine. The following topics are covered: sepsis, rapid sequence intubation, mechanical ventilation, neurocritical care, post-cardiac arrest care, and ED-based ICUs.
Longitudinal Analysis of Mental Disorder Burden Among Elderly Patients With Gastrointestinal Malignancies

Background Patients with cancer are at high risk for having mental disorders, resulting in widespread psychosocial screening efforts. However, there is a need for population-based and longitudinal studies of mental disorders among patients who have gastrointestinal cancer and particular among elderly patients. Patients and methods We used the SEER-Medicare database to identify patients aged ≥65 years with colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, hepatic/biliary, esophageal, or anal cancer. Earlier (12 months before or up to 6 months after cancer diagnosis) and subsequent mental disorder diagnoses were identified. Results Of 112,283 patients, prevalence of an earlier mental disorder was 21%, 23%, 20%, 20%, 19%, and 26% for colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, hepatic/biliary, esophageal, and anal cancer, respectively. An increased odds of an earlier mental disorder was associated with pancreatic cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11-1.23), esophageal cancer (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.18), and anal cancer (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30) compared with colorectal cancer and with having regional versus local disease (OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.13). The cumulative incidence of a subsequent mental disorder at 5 years was 19%, 16%, 14%, 13%, 12%, and 10% for patients with anal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, hepatic/biliary, and pancreatic cancer, respectively. There was an association with having regional disease (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; 95% CI, 1.04-1.12) or distant disease (HR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.28-1.45) compared with local disease and the development of a mental disorder. Although the development of a subsequent mental disorder was more common among patients with advanced cancers, there continued to be a significant number of patients with earlier-stage disease at risk. Conclusions This study suggests a larger role for incorporating psychiatric symptom screening and management throughout oncologic care.
Training for Procedures Not Done in the Operating Room

Procedures not done in the operating room require recognizing a new surg-eco. Identifying the staff who participate and delineate their roles is key to successful performance. In this chapter, the procedure to assess acute scrotal pain in the pediatric emergency room is shown. Creating a CEV-ule assimilates the many features shown in building a CEV-ule for surgical procedure: overview, pediatrician understanding, differential diagnoses (here shown by incidence), pathophysiology, radiographic testing (here ultrasound), and operative findings. Finally a branching tree algorithm to declare management is built.
Clinical Case Study: Muscle Tension Dysphonia

Purpose: The purpose of this problem-based learning case study is to review and interact with a clinical case involving a patient diagnosed with muscle tension dysphonia. Included in the case study...
Compensating empire’s labour

What does the U.S. owe the global army of workers that labour on its behalf in warzones? This is not a question that comes up when discussing the costs of its various wars. But it should. One reaso...
On GR Algorithms for the Eigenvalue Problem

This paper outlines a general theory of GR algorithms which subsumes the theory of QR, LR, and similar algorithms. A generic GR algorithm is described, and its convergence properties are discussed. A generic chasing algorithm, which performs a generic GR step implicitly, is also described. The more general point of view introduced here gives new insights which may lead to more efficient algorithms for the general eigenvalue problem.
Between Court and Confessional: The Politics of Spanish Inquisitors

Between Court and Confessional explores the lives of Spanish inquisitors, closely examining the careers and writings of five sixteenth- and seventeenth-century inquisitors. Kimberly Lynn considers what shaped particular inquisitors, what kinds of official experience each accumulated, and to what ends each directed his acquired knowledge and experience. The case studies examine the complex interplay of careerism and ideological commitments evident in inquisitorial activities. Whereas many studies of the Spanish Inquisition tend to depict inquisitors as faceless and interchangeable, Lynn probes the lives of individual inquisitors to show how inquisitors' operations in their social, political, religious and intellectual worlds set the Inquisition in motion. By focusing on specific individuals, this study explains how the theory and regulations of the Inquisition were rooted in local conditions, particular disputes and individual experiences.
Book or NOOK? Information behavior of academic librarians

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand patterns in information behavior of academic librarians, individuals who influence information technology adoption in academic libraries and parent institutions. Librarians’ perception of their student patrons’ information behavior was also investigated. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory study investigated professional and personal information behavior of eight librarians employed by various academic institutions in the Greater New York City area. The data were collected in face-to-face interviews and analyzed using the content analysis technique. Findings – The study found that librarians’ institutional affiliations had no effect on their information behavior. The patterns in librarians’ information behavior at work and leisure suggest that those behaviors are influenced by contextual variables, personal preferences and tasks, and are no different from the general population. Overall, librarians had accurate, evidence-driven understanding of...
Indicators of recreational water quality

Water quality indicators, in general, and a number of potential health effects, water quality indicators, specifically, are examined with regard to their use in predicting the health hazards associated with the use of recreational waters. The factors considered are the requisite characteristics, constraints upon their use and the data obtained thereby, and their evaluation, especially as regards available epidemiological data. Based upon existing information, two indicator systems, Escherichia coli and enterococci, are tentatively recommended as the indicators of choice for this specific application.
Study of dielectric material property impact on insertion loss for advanced packaging solutions

This paper evaluates the impact of dielectric loss tangent property on electrical insertion loss performance for both conventional and coreless packaging designs up-to 100Gbps datarate. Coreless package with metal grid array (MGA) second level interconnect (SLI) that yields minimal impedance discontinuities was observed gaining more than 50% insertion loss improvements i.e. ∼20% higher compared to conventional design with dielectric loss tangent improved from 0.03 to 0.006.