cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Demography of late Miocene rhinoceroses (Teleoceras proterum and Aphelops malacorhinus) from Florida: linking mortality and sociality in fossil assemblages

Among polygynous mammals, a heightened risk of mortality is linked to the intensity of intragender competition and life-history stages, such as sexual maturity, where inexperienced individuals are vulnerable to the aggressive behaviors of dominant individuals. In this respect, the age- and sex-specific mortality patterns found in fossil assemblages could be informative of soci- ality in extinct species. This possibility was explored by comparing the age- and sex-specific de- mography of attritional rhinoceros assemblages, Teleoceras proterum (n 5 2) and Aphelops malacor- hinus (n 5 1), from pond and fluvial sedimentary facies of the late Miocene of Florida, with modern skeletal assemblages of extant rhinos and other large mammals. Subadult and young adult males (between 15-40% of potential life span) numerically dominate the Teleoceras assemblages, indicating a disproportionately high frequency of localized young male mortality. The estimated age-specific mortality rates indicate elevated mortality risks among males at an age equivalent to the years encompassing male physiological and social maturity in modern rhinos, a pattern that suggests a high frequency of socially mediated mortality. Age-specific mor- tality rate curves of modern black rhino populations are essentially identical. A high frequency of intraspecific fight-related mortality characterizes modern rhinos and strongly suggests that ele- vated Teleoceras mortality was influenced by intragender competition. Although Teleoceras is widely believed to have been the analog of extant Hippopotamus, mortality rates of young males are not elevated in a modern Hippopotamus population. The Aphelops assemblage is not significantly male- biased and does not indicate elevated mortality rates of young males, suggesting that aspects of Aphelops sociality differed from modern rhinos. Although the nature of Aphelops sociality is not clear, aggression toward young males may have been less extreme or less frequent in Aphelops pop- ulations.
Optimal Filtering of AC Output Anemometers

Abstract The output of pulsed and AC output anemometers suffer from discretization noise when such anemometers are sampled at fast rates (>1 Hz). This paper describes the construction of an optimal filter designed to reduce this noise. By comparing the filtered output from an AC output cup anemometer with a nearby cup anemometer whose output is free from discretization noise, it is shown that the filter significantly reduces the noise. Wind speed time series obtained from the two anemometers are quite similar. Next, deconvolution is applied to the filtered time series to account for the anemometer response. Spectra from the deconvolved time series and a time series measured by a nearby sonic anemometer are compared, and for high-speed flows the spectra from the two instruments match quite well. The time series are also very similar; however, the cup anemometer generally cannot respond to the quick bursts of speed seen by the sonic anemometer. The filtering and deconvolution methods presented here are most...
Imaging yield from 133 consecutive patients with prostate cancer and low trigger PSA from a single institution.

Aim To investigate the yield of imaging in patients with relapsed prostate cancer (PC) with a low trigger prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Materials and methods This institutional review board (IRB)-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant retrospective study included all 133 patients (mean age 68 years; range 45–88; median 69 months since original diagnosis; interquartile range [IQR]: 32–139) with hormone-sensitive PC (HSPC, n =28) or castration-resistant PC (CRPC, n =105) and trigger PSA Results Ninety-four of the 133 (71%) patients had metastatic disease (18/28 [64%] with HSPC, 76/105 [72%] with CRPC). Forty-one of the 133 (31%) patients developed new metastatic disease and 23/133 (17%) developed new clinically significant non-metastatic findings. The incidence of osseous, nodal, and visceral metastases, and clinically significant non-metastatic findings was similar across the HSPC and CRPC groups ( p >0.05 for all). Fifty-seven of the 133 (43%) patients had findings seen only at CT, of which 37 had new extra-osseous findings. Only 2/133 (2%) had findings at bone scintigraphy not seen at CT, both in areas not covered on CT. Conclusion Imaging frequently demonstrated new metastatic and non-metastatic findings in patients with a low trigger PSA. CT is valuable in these patients because extra-osseous findings not visible at bone scintigraphy are frequently seen.
Prediction of fetal drug concentrations

Equations are derived for the fetal concentrations of a drug [F(t)] during and after the slow release of the drug into the maternal circulation. To solve these equations it is necessary to know the placental drug clearance (C p ), the clearance of the drug from the fetal circulation by the fetal tissues (C f ), and the volume of distribution of the drug in the fetal compartment (V). With these values tor acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) it can be shown that the maximum fetal aspirin concentration will be much less than the maximum maternal concentration and that after the release of aspirin has stopped, some drug is trapped in the fetal circulation. Therefore, there will be a period of time when the fetal plasma aspirin concentration is greater than maternal plasma aspirin concentration. (Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 137:735, 1980.)
Experiential Education and Our Divided Campuses

The Carnegie education masters, legal employers, and the ABA have appealed for more experiential teaching in law schools. The time is now; every school will soon have to provide at least 6 credits of clinic, field placement, and skills courses for each of their students according to the ABA’s most recent amendments to the Standards for Approval of Law Schools. Many educators and commentators proclaim the successes of the experiential courses to date, and assume that our current offerings just have to be expanded to accommodate the influx of students. However examination of the nature of the experiential coursework of 2,132 attorneys reveals that experiential courses have not been comparably pursued or valued by our former students as they have headed to careers in different settings and types of law practice. There are dramatic contrasts between public and private lawyers, litigators and transactional lawyers in the types of courses they took (or avoided) and in the lasting value they reaped. The Experiential Learning Opportunities and Benefits Survey and Study provides important insights and questions for deans, faculties, and curriculum committees to consider as they reorient their curricula to meet the new ABA requirements.
Nucleon Structure on a Lattice at the Physical Point

We report initial nucleon structure results computed on lattices with 2+1 dynamical Mobius domain wall fermions at the physical point generated by the RBC and UKQCD collaborations. At this stage, we evaluate only connected quark contributions. In particular, we discuss the nucleon vector and axial-vector form factors, nucleon axial charge and the isovector quark momentum fraction. From currently available statistics, we estimate the stochastic accuracy of the determination of gA and 〈x〉u-d to be around 10%, and we expect to reduce that to 5% within the next year. To reduce the computational cost of our calculations, we extensively use acceleration techniques such as low-eigenmode deflation and all-mode-averaging (AMA). We present a method for choosing optimal AMA parameters.
Abstract 6: Preventable Readmission Rates among Medicare Beneficiaries with Ischemic Stroke

Background: Hospital readmissions are being used to assess quality of care for several conditions. Recent studies, however, find that only a small proportion of readmissions after MI are preventable, casting doubt on the merits of using all-cause readmissions to compare hospital performance. Data related to preventable readmissions after stroke are limited. We determined rates of all-cause and potentially preventable readmissions within 30 days of discharge after ischemic stroke using national Medicare data, and identified patient-level factors associated with preventable readmissions. Methods: The cohort included all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries ≥65 yrs discharged alive with a primary diagnosis of ischemic stroke (ICD-9 433, 434, 436) in 2006. Only the first readmission was used if there were multiple readmissions within 30 days. Preventable readmissions were identified using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality methodology. Overall, hospital, and regional preventable readmission rates were assessed. A random effect Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify patient-level factors associated with preventable readmissions. Results: Among 302,565 ischemic stroke hospital discharges, 39,057 (14.8%) patients were readmitted within 30 days. Of these, 13.6% (n=5,322) were potentially preventable. The median hospital-level rate was 14% (Inter quartile range [IQR] 11.6-16.8%) for all-cause and 1.6% (IQR 0.7-2.3%) for preventable readmissions. Preventable readmission rates were higher in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic and lower in the Mountain and Pacific regions. In risk-adjusted analysis, older age, previous MI, CHF, and diabetes were strong predictors of preventable readmissions. Conclusion: Almost 15% of elderly stroke patients were readmitted within 30 days, but only 2% with a readmission that was potentially preventable. National programs aimed at reducing 30-day post-stroke readmissions may have limited impact unless they focus on the small subset of potentially preventable readmissions. Identifying patients at greatest risk is an important step for developing post-discharge interventions to minimize preventable readmissions.
Recurrent Facial Paralysis Associated with HIV Infection

Numerous head and neck manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) have been reported [1–3]. These include salivary gland lymphadenopathy and lymphoproliferative disease [4–6]. Neurologic manifestations of AIDS, including cranial nerve neuropathies, have also been described [7, 8]. We report the association of recurrent facial paralysis and lymphoproliferative disease in two patients with HIV.
Fabrication and Characterization of InxAlyGa1−x−yN Ultraviolet Detectors

Ultraviolet (UV) photoconductive detectors based on InxAlyGa1−x−yN quaternary alloy lattice-matched to GaN have been fabricated and characterized. The detectors consisted of about 0.1 μm thick InxAlyGa1−x−yN quaternary alloy of different In (x) and Al (y) compositions grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). The films were characterized by different techniques including x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Hall-effect and time-resolved photoluminescence measurements. The characteristics of these UV detectors including the cut-off wavelength, photoresponsivity and device speed have been measured. The cut-off wavelength of the InxAlyGa1−x−yN detectors was found to vary to the deep UV range with varying In and Al compositions. The most important and intriguing result is that the responsivity of the InxAlyGa1−xyN quaternary alloy exceeded that of AlGaN alloy of comparable cut-off wavelength by a factor of five. This makes the nitride quaternary alloy very important material for solar blind UV detector applications in the deep UV range where Al rich AlGaN alloys have problems with low quantum efficiency and cracks due in part to lattice mismatch with GaN.
Diets of three common grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) inhabiting desert grassland

Examination of crop contents of three species of grasshoppers in outbreak densities on desert grassland of eastern Arizona revealed that all three were ingesting a mixed diet of plants. Crops of nymphal and adult Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) contained an average of 67 and 93% dry weight of grass, respectively, placing this species in both the mixed graminivorous and the graminivorous categories. The preferred host plant of A. elliotti was Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag. but it was not an essential item, as a large population developed in a site where this grass was virtually lacking but other perennial grasses were present. Crops of nymphs and adults of both Melanoplus sanguinipes (Fabricius) and M. cuneatus Scudder contained chiefly forbs (88–100% of dry weight). The principal host plants were Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Her., Lupinus brevicaulis Wats., Microsteris gracilis (Hook.) Greene, and Plantago purshii Roem. & Schult. Both species of Melanoplus fit into the forbivorous category and evidence indicated they were in competition with each other for food. All three grasshopper species showed preferences for particular plant species and as a consequence had significantly different frequencies of plant taxa in their crop contents from what were present in the field.
Home care for psych problems.

tionalize the mentally ill led to :" ... -^3 a revolving-door phenomenon that / : still persists. While the average .; : ;. . I. hospital stay is shorter, rehospitalization rates have risen. Outpatient psychiatric services were to ? _ be the answer to deinstitutionalization. But the services are often 4 overwhelmed by patient numbers 1 t and needs. For many homebound patients with psychiatric illness, '? j moreover, even those outpatient services available frequently prove . .a .. 1 to be inaccessible.
Tumor necrosis factor and the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction.

In certain infectious diseases, the first dose of an effective antimicrobial drug can trigger an inflammatory host response. Within an hour or two after receiving the drug, the patient abruptly experiences chills, followed by fever and sweating and worsening of preexisting symptoms and lesions. Hyperventilation and tachycardia are accompanied by hypertension, and then by a drop in blood pressure due to vasodilation and declining peripheral resistance. Usually, the reaction resolves over a period of 6 to 12 hours. The identification of this distressing and sometimes fatal phenomenon is usually credited to Jarisch and Herxheimer, each of whom described components of . . .
What is the Right Specification/Design/Implementation Paradigm for Real-Time Applications?

In recent years, a large collection of formal methods has been developed for specifying, analyzing, and verifying real-time computer systems. A major problem is how to apply these methods to the development of real-world computer systems. There are two important issues: When in the software life-cycle of real-time systems should formal methods be applied and how? What should be the relationship between formal specification and analysis of timing properties and formal specification and analysis of nontiming properties?
P125 How can we develop the best test algorithm to monitor hla antibodies for renal recipients? – An evaluation of solid phase antibody assays

Aim Solid-phase HLA antibody assays have diverse sensitivity and specificity. Our goal was to determine which One Lambda (OL) and Immucor (I/LC) assays to include in a test algorithm to provide the “best” information, improve workflow and reduce cost and the need for serum pre-treatment. Methods Sera from 20 problematic and 21 routine patients were selected to examine several issues: reaction strength, specificity and background; unexplained crossmatch results; and reactivity to denatured proteins. Testing followed assay instructions; sera were frozen and thawed before testing, with no pre-treatment or dilution. Positive and negative results were identified, MFI values compared and agreement between assay combinations was determined. Control values were used to identify the need for serum pre-treatment. Results Since a single-antigen bead (SAB) assay is part of our algorithm, results from each manufacturer’s assay were compared with SAB assays. Class I and/or II positive samples had better agreement between assay types than negative samples. Several comparisons including I/LC assays saw less disparity, with better agreement for negative test samples. When disparity was seen with Class I or II SAB assays, more samples were OL positive but I/LC negative. With less reactivity due to interfering substances, I/LC assays need less serum pre-treatment. Download : Download high-res image (186KB) Download : Download full-size image Conclusions An algorithm using OL screen, ID and SAB assays could provide better correlation with decreased serum pre-treatment. Including I/LC SAB assays could provide similar sensitivity and specificity, with additional allele specificities and even less serum pre-treatment. I/LC screen and ID assays provide similar results, a simple kit, lower cost and less pre-treatment, making them attractive to include in the algorithm. While limited by small sample numbers, the study information allowed us to identify how both manufacturers’ assays work in our laboratory.
Blends and Alloys

Abstract The chapter deals with the basic aspects, both theoretical and practical, related to the preparation, properties, and applications of polymer blends and alloys. The general principles of thermodynamics of polymer blends, the liquid–liquid phase behavior (UCST, LCST), as well the solid–liquid transitions for crystallizable systems and the mixing methods are briefly reviewed. The morphological features of either immiscible or miscible polymer blends are analyzed together with the main compatibilization methods—including addition of copolymers, functionalization, and reactive mixing. Then, the phase behavior and properties of blends systems of applicative interest—polyolefin/polyolefin, polyamide/polyolefin, polyester/polyolefin, and blends with liquid crystal components—are reviewed. Their compatibilization processes, and the morphological, thermal, and mechanical properties are examined as a function of composition and compatibilizer content. Finally, examples of processing and applications of blends of polymers of large consumption are reported, particularly as concerning the recycling of scrap packaging plastics (PE, PP, PET), and the development of blends of biodegradable polymers (PLA, PHB, PCL).
The Role of LIM Kinase-1 in the Glycoprotein Ib-IX Complex-Mediated Platelet Activation and Thrombus Formation

LIM Kinase (LIMK)-1 is a member of the LIMK family of serine-threonine protein kinases that phosphorylates actin-binding protein cofilin and regulates actin cytoskeleton organization. LIMK1 is expressed in many cell types including platelets but the exact role of LIMK1 in platelet function remains unclear. To determine the role of LIMK1 in platelet activation, wild type or LIMK1 knockout mouse platelets were stimulated with platelet agonists. Platelet aggregation and granule secretion were analyzed. Integrin-dependent second wave of platelet aggregation induced by von Willebrand factor (VWF) in the presence of VWF activator botrocetin was abolished in LIMK1 knockout platelets. In contrast, platelet aggregation in response to the agonist peptide of protease-activated receptor-4 (PAR4, thrombin receptor), ADP and collagen was either not affected or enhanced in LIMK1 knockout platelets in comparison with wild type mouse platelets. Thus, LIMK appears to play an important role in platelet activation stimulated by VWF binding to its platelet receptor, glycoprotein Ib-IX complex (GPIb-IX) but had no stimulatory effect on or negatively regulate the GPIb-IX-independent platelet activation pathways mediated by PAR-4, ADP receptors and collagen receptors. To determine whether ligand binding to GPIb-IX stimulates LIMK activation and function, platelets were stimulated with VWF in the presence of either ristocetin or botrocetin, and immunoblotted with antibodies specifically recognizing phosphorylated LIMK1 (Serine 505) or cofilin (Serine 3). VWF induced phosphorylation of LIMK1 and LIMK substrate cofilin. Thus, VWF indeed stimulates LIMK1 activation and function. An important physiological role of GPIb-IX in platelets is to mediate platelet adhesion to subendothelial-bound VWF under shear stress at sites of vascular injury. To determine whether LIMK1 is important in platelet adhesion, we investigated whether LIMK1 knockout affected platelet adhesion to VWF-coated surfaces. LIMK1 knockout platelets are defective in mediating stable platelet adhesion to vWF under shear stress, suggesting that LIMK1 plays an important role in GPIb signaling and GPIb-IX-mediated integrin activation that is required for stable platelet adhesion under shear stress. Importantly, LIMK1 knockout mice showed significant delay in the formation of occlusive thrombus following FeCl3-induced carotid artery injury in comparison with wild type mice, indicating that the role of LIMK1 in GPIb-IX-mediated platelet activation is important in in vivo thrombosis. Together, our study reveals that LIMK1 plays an important role in GPIb-IX-mediated platelet activation and arterial thrombosis in vitro and in vivo.
Controller design under safety specifications for a class of bounded hybrid automata

Motivated by driver-assist systems that warn the driver before taking control action, we study the safety problem for a class of bounded hybrid automata. We show that for this class there exists a least restrictive safe feedback controller that has a simple structure and can be computed efficiently online. The theoretical results are then used to design driver-assist systems for rear-end and merging collision scenarios.
PD-1-PD-L1 immune-checkpoint blockade in B-cell lymphomas

Cancer cells can escape T-cell-mediated cellular cytotoxicity by exploiting the inhibitory programmed cell-death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint. Indeed, therapeutic antibodies that block the PD-1-PD-L1 axis induce durable clinical responses against a growing list of solid tumours. B-cell lymphomas also leverage this checkpoint to escape immune recognition, although the outcomes of PD-1-PD-L1 blockade, and the correlations between PD-L1 expression and treatment responses, are less-well elucidated in these diseases than in solid cancers. Nevertheless, in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma, amplification of the gene encoding PD-L1 is commonly associated with increased expression of this protein on Reed-Sternberg cells. Correspondingly, PD-1 blockade with nivolumab has been demonstrated to result in response rates as high as 87% in unselected patients with relapsed and/or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, leading to the FDA approval of nivolumab for this indication in May 2016. The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is probably also important for immune evasion of B-cell lymphomas with a viral aetiology, including those associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). This Review is focused on the role of PD-1-PD-L1 blockade in unleashing host antitumour immune responses against various B-cell lymphomas, and summarizes the clinical studies of this approach performed to date.
A case report of malignant obesity hypoventilation syndrome: A weighty problem in our ICUs.

Introduction The obesity epidemic is reflected by increasing numbers of morbidly obese patients being admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). These are complicated patients whose care involves many diagnostic and treatment challenges. We are presenting a fatal case of super obesity, hypoventilation, and multi-organ failure known as malignant obesity hypoventilation syndrome (MOHS).
Insights from rodent food protection behaviors

Abstract This review aims to provide an update on the current state of research in food protection behaviors. This includes a detailed description of food protection behaviors, theoretical considerations, neuroscientific results, a separate examination of robbers’ behaviors, and some suggestions on future studies. The goal is to provide a succinct overview of food protection behaviors while showcasing their usefulness through an ethologically gestalt lens in which to examine underlying systems of interest not only to better understand the species, but also as an antecedent for understanding human behaviors and conditions.
Polekowe wydłużenie odstępu QT

Polekowe wydluzenie odstepu QT sprzyja wystepowaniu czestoskurczu komorowego typu torsade de pointes (TdP) i naglych zgonow. Związek miedzy określonym lekiem a pojawieniem sie TdP jest trudny do udokumentowania i dlatego jako zastepczy wskaźnik ryzyka proarytmii wykorzystuje sie wydluzenie odstepu QT. Wiekszośc lekow wydluza odstep QT poprzez hamowanie prądu potasowego I Kr lub zmiany przemieszczania sie bialek tworzących ten kanal. Lepsze poznanie budowy i kinetyki kanalow jonowych oraz ich roli w repolaryzacji mialo ogromny wplyw na rozumienie mechanizmow polekowego wydluzenia odstepu QT i wystepowania TdP. Do proarytmii spowodowanej lekiem wydluzającym odstep QT dochodzi rzadko i zwykle w celu wywolania takiego incydentu konieczne jest dzialanie kilku czynnikow, takich jak polączenie dwoch lub wiecej lekow wplywających na ten sam szlak, hipokaliemia oraz byc moze predyspozycja genetyczna. Elektrokardiogram stwarza unikatowe mozliwości oceny bezpieczenstwa stosowanych preparatow. Rutynowo wykorzystywanym sposobem monitorowania bezpieczenstwa lekow jest pomiar odstepu QT, jednak wiąze sie to z wieloma problemami dotyczącym metodologii i dokladności pomiarow, a takze optymalnym sposobem uwzgledniania czestości rytmu serca. Poniewaz leki wplywające na repolaryzacje nie tylko wydluzają odstep QT, ale rowniez zmieniają morfologie zalamkow T, opracowuje sie nowe, skomputeryzowane metody ilościowej oceny tych zmian, ktore ulatwią lekarzom oraz producentom lekow monitorowanie bezpieczenstwa preparatow. Odpowiedź pacjenta na lek jest bardzo indywidualna i dlatego potrzebne jest opracowanie zindywidualizowanego systemu podawania lekow i monitorowania ich dzialania, ktory bedzie uwzglednial początkowy skorygowany odstep QT oraz jego zmiany po zastosowaniu leku. (Folia Cardiologica Excerpta 2008; 3: 62–73).
Depressive symptomology in multiple sclerosis: Disability, cardiorespiratory fitness and heart rate variability.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate whether neurological disability status, heart rate variability (HRV), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) explained the variance in depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods Associations between CRF (via maximal oxygen uptake; VO2peak), HRV indices of normalized ultra-low (nULF) and very low frequency domains (nVLF), neurological disability status and depressive symptoms (using the Depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; HADS-D) were assessed in 53 participants with MS and 17 matched controls. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was conducted within the MS subsample to examine the variance explained by neurological disability alone and CRF. Results The groups were similar in mean age (MS=52.0 years, Control=51.1 years) and sex (MS=72% female, Control=77% female). Among individuals with MS, HADS-D scores significantly correlated with disability status (sample mean score=4) and VO2peak (r=−.62, P .05). Conclusion Heart rate variability does not seem to significantly differ between individuals with MS and healthy controls. When accounting for CRF, disability status no longer explains significant variance in depressive symptoms in MS. Accordingly, targeting CRF might be an effective approach for effectively managing depressive symptoms in individuals with MS.
Proximity-Induced Reactivity and Product Selectivity with a Rationally Designed Bifunctional Peptide Catalyst

Cooperative catalytic systems are making significant advances in modern organic synthesis due to the potential to combine multiple catalytic cycles or enable enzyme-like proximity effects. We report the rational design of a bifunctional helical peptide catalyst that displays an imidazolidinone catalyst in close proximity to a thiourea binding site and enables proximity-enhanced reactivity and selectivity. The helical structure of the peptide and the binding of both reactants are shown to be essential for enhanced reactivity in Diels–Alder and indole alkylation reactions, and up to 28 000 catalyst turnovers are achieved. A variety of Lewis basic functional groups facilitate binding and proximity-enhanced reactivity, and product selectivity is observed that cannot be achieved in the absence of the peptide template.
Case-based studies in teaching medicinal chemistry in PharmD curriculum: Perspectives of students, faculty, and pharmacists from academia.

Abstract Background and purpose Pharmacy practice has evolved tremendously over the years to meet the demands of the growing healthcare system. Foundational sciences like, medicinal chemistry can enhance the critical-thinking and therapeutic decision-making skills of today's professional pharmacists. The importance of medicinal chemistry for the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum has been discussed from the perspectives of medicinal chemistry and practicing clinical faculty whose focused practices vary from infectious diseases to geriatrics. Educational activity and setting An Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved perception survey and a year-end course evaluation were given to the second and third professional year students. Findings Eighty-eight percent of the participating second-year students and 92% of the participating third-year students thought that the introduction of case studies in the medicinal chemistry curriculum enhanced their learning and appreciation for the subject. Discussion and summary The Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment (PCOA) exams, given at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy during the years of 2013–2015, were briefly discussed. Since the requirement to administer the PCOA went into effect in early 2016, the authors felt that not enough time existed to establish meaningful controls to conduct a correlation study with the student perspective survey results obtained and PCOA data provided in 2015. This study, therefore, highlights the importance of integrated approaches to pharmacy teaching at the University of Houston.
Measuring and improving comprehensive pediatric cardiac care: Learning from continuous quality improvement methods and tools

Abstract Quality improvement (QI) is becoming a central part of the work of clinicians throughout healthcare. Continuous quality improvement (CQI), Lean Management Systems (LMS) and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) are management philosophies as well as management methods. They offer an approach, a set of tools, and a way of thinking about how to more effectively assess and study clinical flow, including addressing variation in clinical process and operations. We define CQI as the daily use of QI methods as a regular part of practice engaging all practice staff, constantly measuring structure, processes, outcomes against effective practices (benchmarking), moving from one QI project to the next, pursuing the goal of “The right care for every child every time”. It is based on clear scientific principles, a valid way of measuring change and has theories of reliability and human factors that underpin the interventions. Significant variations in quality of care provided to pediatric patients leading to substandard care have been well documented. For example, in antibiotic prescribing for community acquired pneumonia; pediatric secondhand smoke reduction; screening for diabetes in cystic fibrosis program; and, in depression screening in Type 1 Diabetes. Despite this, not enough pediatric practices are performing continuous quality improvement (CQI) as part of their daily activities. All health care professionals caring for children should consider incorporating quality measurement into their practice. However, we need to focus on what is the right approach to take and the right questions to ask and address the challenges of aggregating scientifically imperfect tests of change. Increasingly, colleagues, patients, payers and certifying agencies expect such measurement to achieve the Triple Aim of better health, better care and lower cost. In addition, new payment models increasingly pay providers for demonstrated value rather than volume, and they expect participation in continuous improvement. Quality Improvement (QI) is a critical component of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4. This requires pediatricians to participate in a meaningful manner in two data-driven QI projects every five years. Pediatricians can select quality measures to evaluate whether patient outcomes and experience improve, and if not, identify and overcome barriers. In this paper we discuss performance improvement using CQI and related methods, suggest approaches to help pediatric cardiologists to ask the right questions when seeking to drive improvement, and consider the implications of measurement theory and complexity science for QI and CQI.
Evaluation of cover crops drill interseeded into corn across the mid-Atlantic region

Cover crop adoption remains low in the mid-Atlantic United States despite potential conservation and production benefits. The short growing season window after corn (Zea mays L.) is a primary limiting factor. A high-clearance grain drill was recently developed to allow for cover crop interseeding into standing cash crops. Experiment 1 tested the viability of drill interseeding cover crops into corn at the V5 growth stage across multiple locations. Experiment 2 tested interseeding timing (V2–V6 corn growth stage) on corn yield in Pennsylvania. At 16 locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York, we evaluated cover crop fall and spring biomass and the effect on corn yield. Cover crop treatments included annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot]), a mixture of legume species, and an annual ryegrass–legume mixture. Each cover crop treatment successfully established across locations yet was highly variable. Across locations, annual ryegrass–legume mixture produced the highest mean aboveground biomass in fall and spring. Spring biomass of interseeded cover crops generally increased compared with fall biomass. Interseeded cover crops did not affect grain yields of the host corn crop during the year of establishment across locations. Experiment 2 indicated that cover crops interseeded before the V3 growth stage reduced corn grain yields. We recommend interseeding at or after V4 to prevent competition with corn. Our results highlight the viability of drill-interseeding as a strategy for increasing cover crop adoption.
Go West Young Firm: Agglomeration and Embeddedness in Startup Migrations to Silicon Valley

Startup growth requires local resources. Economic geography has emphasized the role of agglomeration in accessing these resources. Sociology and urban planning have instead emphasized the role of social embeddedness. For many startups, this creates a trade-off between their home location, in which they are socially embedded, and a higher agglomeration location, where resources are more available. I present a parsimonious model that jointly explains the role of agglomeration and embeddness on startup migration, location choice, and performance. Then, using all Delaware jurisdiction firms in 26 US states, I use machine learning and firm fixed-effects models to estimate selection into Silicon Valley (a high agglomeration location) and the impact of moving on movers. Consistent with the model, higher quality firms are more likely to move, and movers leave low agglomeration areas for higher agglomeration areas. Moving to Silicon Valley increases performance under a variety of dimensions. Movers are more likely to be acquired and IPO, raise more financing, patent more, introduce more products, and have higher sales. The benefits appear to be (at least in part) driven by the benefit of knowledge spillovers in Silicon Valley. Looking at movers from 1996 to 2005, the financial benefits are only present before 2001, but non-financial benefits persist after the dot-com bust. The results imply that agglomeration is more important than embeddedness (for these high growth movers), and that the benefits are driven by access to localized knowledge and its influence on both financial and non-financial outcomes.
Parasite- and Pathogen-Mediated Manipulation of Host Hormones and Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter reveals that many parasites dramatically alter the behavior of their host, and this is particularly true of parasites developing in insect and other arthropod hosts. In the special case of parasites with complex life cycles that involve intermediate hosts, the behavior of the intermediate host is modified to enhance the probability of transmission of the parasite to its final definitive host. Such alterations in host behavior include a change in substrate, humidity, or thermal preferences, levels of locomotor activity, circadian rhythms, geo or phototropisms, or other behaviors that facilitate consumption of the intermediate host by the definitive vertebrate host. In some cases, however, alterations in intermediate host behavior are not correlated with increased predation of the host. Feeding and reproduction are frequently affected by the presence of parasites in insect hosts, in both phytophagous larval stage insects and hematophagous adult stage vectors.
Phase II randomized clinical trial comparing immunotherapy plus stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (I-SABR) versus SABR alone for stage I, selected stage IIa or isolated lung parenchymal recurrent non-small cell lung cancer: I-SABR.

TPS8580Background: Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), which delivers high biologically effective radiation doses, can kill cancer cells, release tumor-associated antigens, and activate tumor-specific T cells, thereby functioning as a cancer-specific vaccine in situ. The combination of the immune-triggering effects of ionizing radiation with immune check point PD-1inhibitor may leverage the effects of radiotherapy, transforming what was once considered a local therapy to a novel systemic treatment. Further, the combined effects of local control plus systemic control may improve cure rate in early stage NSCLC. Methods: This is a randomized phase II trial (NCT03110978) designed to study SABR (biological effective dose > 100 Gy) with or without concurrent and adjuvant Nivolumab for total of 7 doses in early stage or isolated recurrent NSCLC. Inclusion criteria: stage I disease (tumor≤5cm, N0M0) OR selected cases of stage IIa disease (tumor > 5cm but≤7cm, N0M0), including multiple primary tumors, OR is...
Revisiting “the repugnant other” in the era of Trump

Anthropology has long challenged etic characterizations of the contradictory other, highlighting the logics of putatively backward subjects. Recent punditry on Donald Trump’s election echoes this e...
Stroke prevention: How low can you go?

Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of long-term disability.1,2 However, the rate of stroke has fallen dramatically in high-income countries over the past 40 years.3 This drop is attributed to better preventive care that addresses stroke risk factors, including better control of hypertension, increased use of statins, and the successful societal campaign to reduce smoking. Although uncommon in young patients, stroke risk increases during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in young women, both physical disability and depression. Preeclampsia-eclampsia (PEE) underlies a large proportion of strokes associated with pregnancy.4 PEE also correlates with a higher lifelong risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke.5,6 It remains unclear whether PEE simply identifies those at high risk or causes long-lasting multiorgan vascular effects that confer later vulnerability.7 The identification of PEE as a risk factor for future stroke raises important questions of risk stratification and preventive therapy.
The Therapeutic Implications of the Gut Microbiome and Probiotics in Patients with NAFLD

Recent breakthrough in our understanding pertaining to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has pointed to dysregulation or derangement of the gut microbiome, also known as dysbiosis. This has led to growing interest in probiotic supplementation as a potential treatment method for NAFLD due to its ability to retard and/or reverse dysbiosis and restore normal gut flora. A thorough review of medical literature was completed from inception through July 10, 2018 on the PubMed database by searching for key terms such as NAFLD, probiotics, dysbiosis, synbiotics, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). All studies reviewed indicate that probiotics had a beneficial effect in patients with NAFLD and its subset NASH. Results varied between studies, but there was evidence demonstrating improvement in liver enzymes, hepatic inflammation, hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrosis. No major adverse effects were noted. Currently, there are no guidelines addressing the use of probiotics in the setting of NAFLD. In conclusion, probiotics appear to be a promising option in the treatment of NAFLD. Future research is necessary to assess the efficacy of probiotics in patients with NAFLD.
Contribution of frequency bands to the loudness of broadband sounds: Tonal and noise stimuli

Contributions of individual frequency bands to judgments of total loudness can be assessed by varying the level of each band independently from one presentation to the next and determining the relation between the change in level of each band and the loudness judgment. In a previous study, measures of perceptual weight obtained in this way for noise stimuli consisting of 15 bands showed greater weight associated with the highest and lowest bands than loudness models would predict. This was true even for noise with the long-term average speech spectrum, where the highest band contained little energy. One explanation is that listeners were basing decisions on some attribute other than loudness. The current study replicated earlier results for noise stimuli and included conditions using 15 tones located at the center frequencies of the noise bands. Although the two types of stimuli sound very different, the patterns of perceptual weight were nearly identical, suggesting that both sets of results are based on loudness judgments and that the edge bands play an important role in those judgments. The importance of the highest band was confirmed in a loudness-matching task involving all combinations of noise and tonal stimuli.
The Use of Cryoanalgesia in Minimally Invasive Repair of Pectus Excavatum: Lessons Learned

Abstract Introduction: Cryoanalgesia has been applied to minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). After implementation of cryoanalgesia at our institution, we had several cases of del...
Characterizing Polarization in Passive Polarimetric Remote Sensing

The polarization of objects relevant to remote sensing imaged with midwave and longwave infrared passive polarimetrie sensors is not intuitive due to the multiple variables influencing polarization. We analyze polarization for varying conditions and compare simulated data with measurements collected in laboratory and field experiments.
Facilitating Information Exploration of Archival Library Materials Through Multi-modal Storytelling

This project aims to help people explore, understand, and rediscover the many-to-many relationships of content within library archives using multi-modal storytelling. This project builds upon an existing multi-modal storytelling system which is designed to help people explore large knowledge graphs by actively constructing narratives using information from the knowledge graphs. We present this system and a case study of how the process of creating the knowledge graph from existing archives becomes an iterative hypothesis testing process and triggers new knowledge discovery.
Increasing Education Research Productivity: A Network Analysis.

Author(s): Peterson, William J.; Santen, Sally A.; House, Joseph B.; Hopson, Laura R.; Wolff, Meg; Carney, Michele; Cyrus, John W. | Abstract: Introduction: Forming effective networks is important for personal productivity and career development. Although critical for success, these networks are not well understood. The objective of this study was to usze a social network analysis tool to demonstrate the growth of institutional publication networks for education researchers and show how a single institution has expanded its publication network over time.Methods: Publications from a single institution’s medical education research group (MERG) were pulled since its inception in 2010 to 2019 using Web of Science to collect publication information. Using VOSViewer software, we formed and plotted a network sociogram comparing the first five years to the most recent 4.25 years to compare the institutions of authors from peer reviewed manuscripts published by this group.Results: We found 104 peer-reviewed research articles, editorials, abstracts, and reviews for the MERG authors between 2010 and 2019 involving 134 unique institutions. During 2010-2014, there were 26 publications involving 56 institutions. From 2015- 2019, there were 78 publications involving 116 unique institutions.Conclusion: This brief report correlates successful research productivity in medical education with the presence of increased inter-institutional collaborations as demonstrated by network sociograms. Programs to intentionally expand collaborative networks may prove to be an important element of facilitating successful careers in medical education scholarship.
Spatially Aware Dense-LinkNet Based Regression Improves Fluorescent Cell Detection in Adaptive Optics Ophthalmic Images

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells play an important role in nourishing retinal neurosensory photoreceptor cells, and numerous blinding diseases are associated with RPE defects. Their fluorescence signature can now be visualized in the living human eye using adaptive optics (AO) imaging combined with indocyanine green (ICG), which motivates us to develop an automated RPE detection method to improve the quantitative evaluation of RPE status in patients. This paper proposes a spatially-aware, Dense-LinkNet-based regression approach to improve the detection of in vivo fluorescent cell patterns, achieving precision, recall, and F1-Score of 93.6 $\pm$ 4.3%, 81.4 $\pm$ 9.5%, and 86.7 $\pm$ 5.7%, respectively. These results demonstrate the utility of incorporating spatial inputs into a deep learning-based regression framework for cell detection.