cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of health insurance status on vaccination coverage in children 19-35 months old, United States, 1993-1996.

Objectives To show how health insurance (privately and publicly insured, insured and uninsured) relates to vaccination coverage in children 19-35 months old, and how this can be used to better target public health interventions. Methods The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) gathers information on the health and health care of the U.S. non-institutionalized population through household interviews. The authors combined immunization and health insurance supplements from the 1993 through 1996 NHIS, and classified children 19-35 months old by their immunization and insurance status. Results were compared using both bivariate and multivariate analyses, and the backwards stepwise selection method was used to build multivariate logistic regression models. Results Uninsured children tended to have lower vaccination coverage than those who had insurance, either private or public. Among those with insurance, publicly insured children had lower vaccination coverage than privately insured children. Backwards stepwise regression retained insurance status, metropolitan statistical area, and education of responsible adult family member as major predictors of immunization. Factors considered but not retained in the final model included child race/ethnicity, family poverty index, and region of country. Conclusions Insurance status was a critical predictor of vaccination coverage for children ages 19-35 months. After controlling for confounders, the uninsured were about 24% less likely to receive all recommended shots than the insured and, among the insured, those with public insurance were about 24% less likely to receive all recommended vaccines than those with private insurance.
Does exercise during hospitalization after stem cell transplantation decrease reports of fatigue and reduce the duration of the hospital stay

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our facility with the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. At the time of admission, she did not report pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, or fatigue. Her body temperature was 37.1°C (98.7°F), her heart rate was 66 beats per minute, her respiratory rate was 18 breaths per minute, and her blood pressure was 117/77 mm Hg. Laboratory values included a platelet count of 668,000/mL, a white blood cell count of 7,000/mL, and hemoglobin of 10.0 g/dL. Before the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, she had worked full-time as a day care worker and reported that she was functionally independent at the time of this admission. After admission, she received high-dose chemotherapy for 2 days before undergoing autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation on the third day. Three days following the stem cell transplantation, her temperature was 37.7°C (99.8°F), her heart rate was 80 beats per minute, her respiratory rate was 16 breaths per minute, and her blood pressure was 120/72 mm Hg. Her platelet count decreased to 422,000/mL, her white blood cell count deceased to 2,700/mL, and her hemoglobin decreased to 9.3 g/dL. She reported feeling weak and tired, and she had difficulty eating because she always felt nauseous. The patient used the bedside commode frequently because of diarrhea. She walked to the bathroom once a day to take a seated shower according to the attending physician's orders for physical activity. Typically, the medical team at our facility requests a physical therapy consultation only when the patient is unable to perform basic activities of daily living. In this case, however, the attending physician contacted the physical therapy department for information on the benefits and risks of exercise after stem cell transplantation. He was concerned that an increase in physical activity might exacerbate the patient's symptoms and might lead to …
5.504 – Effect of Substrate Modulus on Cell Function and Differentiation

During development, tissue-specific stiffness arises from changes in the extracellular environment, notably the density, composition, and cross-linking of the protein network, called the extracellular matrix, that surrounds cells. All these parameters influence the Young's modulus, that is, ‘stiffness,’ of this matrix, and cells ‘feel’ these changes by contracting against the material. Importantly, mechanosensitive proteins in the cell cause it to respond and adapt to matrix stiffness, affecting important cell processes and functions. Here we provide a succinct review of how one measures and manipulates stiffness in both biological and synthetic materials. We also provide a description of how different types of cells respond to stiffness: for example, stem cells can differentiate into a specific cell type when matrix stiffness closely mimics the appropriate physiological stiffness for that lineage. We conclude by giving some perspective on the how the stiffness-related findings from traditional two-dimensional cultures are now applied to more physiologically appropriate three-dimensional materials.
Can Retail Investors Drive Up Stock Prices

This study finds that return on the NYSE largest-cap portfolio significantly increases following the shock to the percentage change in NYSE odd lot purchase volume. Based on the analysis of monthly data from 1970M2 to 2012M12, the results reveal a causal linkage between return on the NYSE largest-cap portfolio and the percentage change in NYSE odd lot purchase volume. The findings suggest that purchase trades placed by retail investors, on average, help drive up future prices of large-cap stocks.
Grafting Poly(OEGMA) Brushes from a Shape Memory Elastomer and Subsequent Wrinkling Behavior.

An azide-functionalized shape memory elastomer, poly(octylene diazoadipate-co-octylene adipate), has been grafted with poly(oligoethylene glycol) methacrylate (poly(OEGMA)) brushes via aqueous ARGET (activators regenerated by electron transfer) ATRP. Sequential swelling of the substrate followed by a grafting-from reaction yielded an incompressible brush layer on the shape-memory substrate. Upon heating the substrate above the Tm to return to the primary shape, uniaxial wrinkles perpendicular to the direction of strain with sizes of 27–33 μm appear in addition to micrometer-sized features formed on the temporary shape after grafting. Swelling equilibration time (t1) and grafting reaction time (t2) were varied to control wrinkle formation and size. In this manner, we were able to create unique, anisotropic hierarchical surface structures with different length scales and patterns.
Transcervical ultrasound identifies primary tumor site of unknown primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) of unknown primary site (UP) account for approximately 4% of HNSCCs.1 These cases have historically been subclinical tumors arising from the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, or oropharynx. In the era of human papillomavirus (HPV)–positive HNSCCs, the presence of HPV in cervical malignancy of UP has been strongly associated with oropharyngeal primary tumors.2 Tumors that are HPV–positive are typically small and arise from cryptic lingual and palatine lymphoid tissues, rendering primary tumor detection challenging.3 The traditional diagnostic paradigm for finding the primary tumor consists of a physical examination, fiber-optic laryngoscopy, and imaging. If these techniques are unsuccessful, operative examination under anesthesia is warranted, including direct laryngoscopy with “blind” biopsies directed at the nasopharynx, hypopharynx, oropharynx, larynx, and palatine and lingual tonsillectomy. Failure to identify the primary tumor site subsequently necessitates radiation of Waldeyer’s ring and concurrent chemotherapy. This report shows that transcervical ultrasound (US) can be used to localize oropharyngeal tumors. The study was reviewed and approved by the Greater Baltimore Medical Center Institutional Review Board.
Scalable Quantum Information Processing with Trapped Ions

We present a scalable approach to quantum information processing utilizing trapped ions and photons. Ions trapped in microfabricated surface traps provide a practical platform for realizing quantum networks of distributed computing nodes and quantum repeaters.
Distribution and Scientific Administration of Information Resources in Multi-campus University Libraries

The combination of universities and collages and establishment of new campus make multi-campus university become common.In order to serve users in multi-campus and meet their information requirement,system of multi-campus library comes into being.Starting with analyzing the characteris-tics of information resources in multi-campus library,the paper discusses how to distribute and admin-istrate information resources in multi-campus library.
Analysis and Measures of Protection Movement in the Water Level of the Drum of 300 MW Boiler

Introduction is made based on a Xinjiang power plant the boiler and ignition process,the boiler feed water on many occasions caused the action to protect the boiler fire accident MFT,analysis of fire cause of the accident is because of the use of cold plasma ignition,for poor quality coal,flue gas temperature becomes high,which can easily lead to vaporization of the boiler economizer.At the same time,the less experienced operating personnel leads to action at high water level,causing the boiler extinguishment.Analysis is made on water fluctuation and proposals are put forward such as increasing drainage and open economizer recirculation door in time.
The Bottom Line for Reform ——the Thought of Zheng Guanying and the Doctrine of Chinese Learning as Essence, Western Learning as Utilities, the Dichotomy Between Dao and Qi

Compared with the reformist bureaucrats during the Tongzhi Restoration, the late Qing reformist thinker Zheng Guanying pushed the doctrine of"Chinese Learning as essence, Western Learning as utilities"forward to the dichotomy between Dao and Qi, which can be seen as a breakthrough of the contemporary Chinese mind. However, Zheng Guanying still stuck to his fervent belief in Dao as the core of Confucianism and Taoism. The loyalty to the Dao and the antagonism towards Christianity became the distinguished trait of late Qing reformist thinkers and their intellectual bottom line.
Integrating biology, field logistics, and simulations to optimize parameter estimation for imperiled species

Conservation of imperiled species often requires knowledge of vital rates and population dynamics. However, these can be difficult to estimate for rare species and small populations. This problem is further exacerbated when individuals are not available for detection during some surveys due to limited access, delaying surveys and creating mismatches between the breeding behavior and survey timing. Here we use simulations to explore the impacts of this issue using four hypothetical boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) populations, representing combinations of logistical access (accessible, inaccessible) and breeding behavior (synchronous, asynchronous). We examine the bias and precision of survival and breeding probability estimates generated by survey designs that differ in effort and timing for these populations. Our findings indicate that the logistical access of a site and mismatch between the breeding behavior and survey design can greatly limit the ability to yield accurate and precise estimates of survival and breeding probabilities. Simulations similar to what we have performed can help researchers determine an optimal survey design(s) for their system before initiating sampling efforts.
Empirical Terrain-Based Topographic Modification Factors for Use in Ground Motion Prediction

We develop a model to predict topographic effects on ground motions using the NGA-West2 data set. Topography at a site is quantified using three parameters: smoothed curvature, smoothed slope, and ...
Management of the Premature Infant with a Patent Ductus Arteriosus

The maturation of the lung is one of the greatest challenges the premature infant must face after birth. Premature infants have been observed to have a higher prevalence of patency of the ductus arterious, presenting the physician with a dilemma and a challenge. This article discusses the clinical and pathophysiologic manifestations and the management of patent ductus arteriosus in the premature infant.
Cholestatic Variants of Viral Disease and Alcohol

Viral hepatitis is typically characterized by a hepatocellular injury pattern, with a primary elevation in transaminases (AST, ALT). However, the presence of cholestasis should not exclude a viral or alcoholic etiology of liver disease. Both hepatotropic and non-hepatotropic viruses can present predominately with an elevation of bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase. Alcoholic hepatitis, classically exhibiting an AST to ALT ratio of 2:1, can also have cholestatic features as well. The aim of this chapter is to describe the cholestatic variants of the above hepatitides.
Natural Capital and Wealth in the 21st Century

Extending the wealth accumulation model of Piketty and Zucman [2014] to include net depreciation in fossil fuels, minerals, and forests produces two key indicators: the net national saving rate adjusted for natural capital depreciation, and the ratio of this rate to long-run growth. These indicators are applied to eight rich economies over 1970–2013 and developing countries for 1979–2013. Whereas in developing economies capital accumulation has largely kept pace with rising natural capital depletion, in the rich countries adjusted net savings have fallen to converge with the rate of natural capital depreciation, suggesting less compensation by net increases in other capital.
Sensor Families for Intrusion Detection Infrastructures

Intrusion detection relies on the information provided by a number of sensorsdeployed throughout a protected network. Sensors operate on different event streams, such as network packets and application logs, and provide information at different abstraction levels, such as low-level warnings and correlated alerts. In addition, sensors range from lightweight probes and simple log parsers to complex software artifacts that perform sophisticated analysis. Therefore, deploying, configuring, and managing, a large number of heterogeneous sensors is a complex, expensive, and error-prone activity.
Profiling a GPU database implementation: a holistic view of GPU resource utilization on TPC-H queries

General Purpose computing on Graphics Processing Units (GPGPU) has become an increasingly popular option for accelerating database queries. However, GPUs are not well-suited for all types of queries as data transfer costs can often dominate query execution. We develop a methodology for quantifying how well databases utilize GPU architectures using proprietary profiling tools. By aggregating various profiling metrics, we break down the different aspects that comprise occupancy on the GPU across the runtime of query execution. We show that for the Alenka GPU database, only a small minority of execution time, roughly 5% is spent on the GPU. We further show that even on queries with seemingly good performance, a large portion of the achieved occupancy can actually be attributed to stalls and scalar instructions.
Case series of subclavian artery aneurysms in the noninvasive vascular laboratory

IntroductionSubclavian artery aneurysm (SAA) is an uncommon entity, and there is little information in the vascular ultrasound literature regarding this disorder.MethodsQuery of a single-center non...
Gains from Sharing: Sticky Norms, Endogenous Preferences, and the Economics of Shareable Goods

There are often "gains from sharing" underutilized goods with others. People routinely share tools, media, gear, electronics, toys, space, and vehicles with relatives, friends, and neighbors, and the internet is opening up new opportunities to share them with strangers. Drawing on the work of James Buchanan, Elinor Ostrom, and Yochai Benkler, I develop an economic framework of decentralized sharing. My analysis challenges the implications of simple economic models, which ignore the role of sticky norms and endogenous preferences and, therefore, suggest that people are always sharing at efficient levels. I argue that the online platforms may gradually transform norms and preferences to substantially increase peer-to-peer borrowing and lending. Using data from General Social Survey, the Consumer Expenditure Survey, the online platform NeighborGoods, and my own survey, I estimate the current and potential value of decentralized sharing. I find that today peer-to-peer borrowing is worth at least $179 a year for 30 percent of Americans and at least $774 for 8 percent of Americans. If the online platforms are able to facilitate high levels of sharing among loosely-tied individuals, the annual benefit to the average household would be modest but significant, perhaps one thousand dollars a year. My analysis suggests that that there are significant gains from sharing tools, media, gear, electronics, toys, pets, vacation homes, and lodging, but the largest gains will likely come from sharing privately-owned vehicles.
Reservoir Nanoagents for In-Situ Sensing and Intervention

Nanotechnology is often associated with the alternate clean energy technologies of tomorrow, from the super efficient solar and fuel cells to hydrogen economy and the extreme lasting batteries. As only recently, the Oil and Gas industry started uncovering the great potentials of this field for its use, upstream E&P professionals need to be able to clarify facts from misconceptions and have a basic understanding of the physical phenomena that govern the behavior of things at the nanoscale. This chapter introduces the potentials of nanotechnology in E&P. It highlights current and anticipated benefits in the upstream sector and explores the feasibility of having molecular agents (Resbots) in the subsurface. The future reality of reservoir nanoagents is demonstrated in a suite of nanofluid coreflood experiments targeting stability and survivability of the nanoagents at reservoir conditions.
The Simulation of Human Fertility

Within the past ten years, computer simulation has become a common tool in anthropology, genetics, and demography. The kinds of problems for which simulation is most useful involve studies of the effects of interaction of two or more population processes on the growth, structure and evolution of populations. For example, an anthropologist might model the joint effects of mating rules and migration patterns on the size and geographical distribution of a population; a geneticist might be interested in the combined effects of genetically determined, age-specific differential fertility and mortality on the maintenance of a polymorphism; and a demographer might wish to investigate models in which population growth depends upon fertility and mortality characteristics of both males and females.
Alosterismo en las proteínas reguladoras del filamento delgado cardiaco controlan la formación de Puentes Cruzados

En el musculo cardiaco, la activacion de los filamentos delgados por medio de Ca 2+ permite la union fuerte de miosina a la actina la cual genera el efecto de bazo palanca responsable de la conversion de energia quimica del ATP en energia mecanica. Esta activacion es inhibida por la proteina Troponina (Tn) que es sensible al Ca 2+ . Empero, el nivel de detalle del mecanismo actual de puentes cruzados es insuficiente en describir lo que ocurre con Tn durante este ciclo. El presente estudio trata de estudiar los cambios conformacionales en Tn en funcion de Ca 2+ y miosina mediante el uso de microscopia de florescencia de tiempo de vida combinada con resonancia de transferencia de energia Forster (FLIM-FRET). Moleculas fluorescentes localizadas en la terminal C de TnC y TnI, respectivamente, reportan el estado de activacion de Tn. Bajo las condiciones probadas, Ca 2+ es responsable de la mayor parte de la activacion de Tn. Miosina en estado rigor (union fuerte) activa Tn tanto en estados saturados como sub-saturados de Ca 2+ , pero este ultimo estado no supera el estado saturado con Ca 2+ . ATP-γ-S (ATP no hidrolizable) no afecta la activacion de Tn significativamente; sin embargo, blebbistatin (induce union debil en miosina) indujo activacion de Tn significativamente en estados sub-saturados de Ca 2+ . La relacion entre el grado de activacion de Tn y el de su flexibilidad conformacional sugieren que estados activos e inactivos coexisten en diferentes proporciones que dependen de la combinacion de los efectores Ca 2+ y miosina. Estos resultados satisfacen un modelo de activacion alosterica en filamentos delgados.
Truth as Trophy: The Social Construction of Veracity

The term “truth,” a human judgment, applies only to sentences or propositions uttered or written by a person, not the revelation of the universe itself or an extra-human authority. Sophist philosop...
The Use of a Humanized NSG-β2m -/- Model for Investigation of Immune and Anti-tumor Effects Mediated by the Bifunctional Immunotherapeutic Bintrafusp Alfa

The lack of serial biopsies in patients with a range of carcinomas has been one obstacle in our understanding of the mechanism of action of immuno-oncology agents as well as the elucidation of mechanisms of resistance to these novel therapeutics. While much information can be obtained from studies conducted with syngeneic mouse models, these models have limitations, including that both tumor and immune cells being targeted are murine and that many of the immuno-oncology agents being evaluated are human proteins, and thus multiple administrations are hampered by host xenogeneic responses. Some of these limitations are being overcome by the use of humanized mouse models where human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are engrafted into immunosuppressed mouse strains. Bintrafusp alfa (M7824) is an innovative first-in-class bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of the TGF-βRII to function as a TGF-β "trap" fused to a human IgG1 antibody blocking PD-L1. A phase I clinical trial of bintrafusp alfa showed promising anti-tumor efficacy in heavily pretreated advanced solid tumors, and multiple clinical studies are currently ongoing. There is still much to learn regarding the mechanism of action of bintrafusp alfa, including its effects on both human immune cells in the periphery and in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and any temporal effects upon multiple administrations. By using the NSG-β2m-/- mouse strain humanized with PBMC, we demonstrate here for the first time: (a) the effects of bintrafusp alfa administration on human immune cells in the periphery vs. the TME using three different human xenograft models; (b) temporal effects upon multiple administrations of bintrafusp alfa; (c) phenotypic changes induced in the TME, and (d) variations observed in the use of multiple different PBMC donors. Also discussed are the similarities and differences in the data thus far obtained employing murine syngeneic models, from clinical trials, and in the use of this humanized mouse model. The results described here may guide the future use of this agent or similar immunotherapy agents as monotherapies or in combination therapy studies.
Electrophysiology and genetic testing in the precision medicine of congenital deafness: A review

Abstract Background Congenital hearing loss is remarkably heterogeneous, with over 130 deafness genes and thousands of variants, making for innumerable genotype/phenotype combinations. Understanding both the pathophysiology of hearing loss and molecular site of lesion along the auditory pathway permits for significantly individualized counseling. Electrophysiologic techniques such as electrocochleography (ECochG) and electrically-evoked compound action potentials (eCAP) are being studied to localize pathology and estimate residual cochlear vs. neural health. This review describes the expanding roles of genetic and electrophysiologic evaluation in the precision medicine of congenital hearing loss. The basics of genetic mutations in hearing loss and electrophysiologic testing (ECochG and eCAP) are reviewed, and how they complement each other in the diagnostics and prognostication of hearing outcomes. Used together, these measures improve the understanding of insults to the auditory system, allowing for individualized counseling for CI candidacy/outcomes or other habilitation strategies. Conclusion Despite tremendous discovery in deafness genes, the effects of individual genes on neural function remain poorly understood. Bridging the understanding between molecular genotype and neural and functional phenotype is paramount to interpreting genetic results in clinical practice. The future hearing healthcare provider must consolidate an ever-increasing amount of genetic and phenotypic information in the precision medicine of hearing loss.
Evaluation of the Adolescent with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Bleeding disorders constitute an important etiology of heavy menstrual bleeding in adolescents that require thoughtful planning of the laboratory evaluation. Optimal diagnostic strategies should consider the pretest probability of a bleeding problem based on the patient’s personal and family history of bleeding and should always follow a bleeding history. Physicians, including adolescent medicine, family practice, and obstetrician-gynecologists, should work in coordination with a hematologist for management of heavy menstrual bleeding, including diagnostic evaluation of a bleeding disorder. Such evaluation in adolescent girls should include assessment of anemia from blood loss, including serum ferritin, the presence of an endocrine disorder leading to anovulation, and testing for an underlying bleeding disorder. The highest yield initial tests for diagnosing a bleeding disorder in adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding include von Willebrand panel and platelet function testing. This chapter will summarize the laboratory evaluation of bleeding disorders in adolescents with heavy periods with an emphasis on practical considerations.
Ultra-sharp pinnacles sculpted by natural convective dissolution

The evolution of landscapes, landforms, and other natural structures involves highly interactive physical and chemical processes that often lead to intriguing shapes and recurring motifs. Particularly intricate and fine-scale features characterize the so-called karst morphologies formed by mineral dissolution into water. An archetypal form is the tall, slender, and sharply tipped karst pinnacle or rock spire that appears in multitudes in striking landforms called stone forests, but whose formative mechanisms remain unclear due to complex, fluctuating, and incompletely understood developmental conditions. Here, we demonstrate that exceedingly sharp spires also form under the far-simpler conditions of a solid dissolving into a surrounding liquid. Laboratory experiments on solidified sugars in water show that needlelike pinnacles, as well as bed-of-nails-like arrays of pinnacles, emerge robustly from the dissolution of solids with smooth initial shapes. Although the liquid is initially quiescent and no external flow is imposed, persistent flows are generated along the solid boundary as dense, solute-laden fluid descends under gravity. We use these observations to motivate a mathematical model that links such boundary-layer flows to the shape evolution of the solid. Dissolution induces these natural convective flows that, in turn, enhance dissolution rates, and simulations show that this feedback drives the shape toward a finite-time singularity or blow-up of apex curvature that is cut off once the pinnacle tip reaches microscales. This autogenic mechanism produces ultra-fine structures as an attracting state or natural consequence of the coupled processes at work in the closed solid-fluid system.
Nanoscale platform for delivery of active IRINOX to combat pancreatic cancer.

Abstract Due to its late diagnosis and dismal prognosis, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most devastating solid malignancies, with only 9% of patients surviving after being diagnosed. A multidrug chemotherapeutic regimen FOL-F-IRIN-OX (combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) offers survival benefits superior to that of gemcitabine single agent, but the treatment-related side effects are also severe. To overcome this therapeutic barrier, we developed polymeric micelles bearing active formats of irinotecan and oxaliplatin, SN38 and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane‑platinum (II), DACHPt. Crosslinked micelles were prepared using amphiphilic PEG-b-poly(L-glutamic acid)/SN38 conjugates and subsequently loaded with DACHPt. The dual drug-loaded micelles exhibited improved colloidal stability, prolonged drug release and remarkable cytotoxicity in human pancreatic cancer cell lines and KrasG12D; Trp52R172H/+; Pdx-1 Cre murine tumor organoids models. In vivo, (SN38 + DACHPt)-loaded micelles displayed superior antitumor and antimetastatic activities without impairing safety. Our results suggest that nanomedicine mimicking irinotecan and oxaliplatin as parts of FOLFIRINOX regimen may further improve the feasibility of this multidrug treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Accuracy of partial coherence interferometry in patients with large inter-eye axial length difference.

BACKGROUND To determine accuracy of partial coherence interferometry (PCI) in patients with large inter-eye axial eye length (AEL) difference. METHODS Patients undergoing cataract surgery at two academic medical centers with an inter-eye axial eye length (AEL) difference of > 0.30 mm were identified and were matched to control patients without inter-eye AEL difference > 0.30 mm on the basis of age, sex, and AEL. The expected post-operative refraction for the implanted IOL was calculated using SRK/T, Holladay II, and Hoffer Q formulae. The main outcome measures were the refractive prediction error and the equivalence of the refractive outcomes between the subjects and controls. RESULTS Review of 2212 eyes from 1617 patients found 131 eyes of 93 patients which met inclusion criteria. These were matched to 131 control eyes of 115 patients. The mean AEL was 24.92 ± 1.50 mm. The mean absolute error (MAE) ranged from 0.47 D to 0.69 D, and was not statistically different between subjects and controls. The refractive prediction error was equivalent between the cases and controls, with no significant difference between the MAE for any formula, nor in the number of cases vs. controls with a refractive prediction error of at least 0.50 D or 1.00 D. CONCLUSIONS Among eyes in our study population, good-quality PCI data was equally accurate in patients with or without an inter-eye AEL difference > 0.30 mm. Confirmatory AEL measurements using different AEL measuring modalities in patients with a large inter-eye AEL difference may not be necessary.
Age-at-Onset and APOE-Related Heterogeneity in Pathologically Confirmed Sporadic Alzheimer Disease.

Objective: To characterize age-related clinical heterogeneity in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and determine if it is modified by APOE genotype or concomitant non-AD pathology, we analyzed data from 1750 patients with sporadic, pathologically-confirmed severe AD. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, regression and mixed effects models assessed effects of estimated age of onset, APOE genotype, and their interaction on standardized clinical, cognitive and pathologic outcome measures from the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) database. Results: A bimodal distribution of age of onset frequency in APOE e4- cases showed best separation at age 63. Using this age cut-off, cases were grouped as early onset (EO) AD e4- (n=169), EOAD e4+ (n=273), late onset (LO) AD e4- (n=511), and LOAD e4+ (n=797). EOAD were more likely than LOAD patients to present with non-cognitive behavioral or motor symptoms or non-memory cognitive complaints, and had more executive dysfunction, but less language impairment on objective cognitive testing. Age of onset and e4- genotype were independently associated with lower baseline MMSE and greater functional impairment, and EOAD had faster cognitive and functional decline than LOAD regardless of APOE genotype. EOAD were more likely than LOAD patients to receive a non-AD clinical diagnosis even though they were more likely to have “pure” AD without concomitant vascular or other non-AD neurodegenerative pathology. Conclusions: Early onset sporadic AD is associated with a greater likelihood of an atypical, non-memory dominant clinical presentation, especially in the absence of the APOE e4 allele, which may lead to misattribution to non-AD underlying pathology.
Aesthetic routing for transistor schematics

A heuristic routing approach for generating transistor schematic diagrams is presented. The method consists of two steps: global routing and channel routing. The global routing step partitions and routes the interconnections, into three levels of abstraction with domain knowledge. It forms desirable intra-block routing styles and local connection patterns, and achieves a reduction of net bends and lengths. Channel routing minimizes net crossovers by applying decycling and ordering techniques achieving nonoverlapping routing with a small number of net crossovers. >
Diltiazem Dosing Strategies in the Management of Atrial Fibrillation With Rapid Ventricular Rate

Introduction Diltiazem is commonly used for the management of atrial fibrillation (AFIB) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR) in the emergency department (ED). Conflicting studies comparing the efficacy of diltiazem have led to various dosing strategies. The objective of this study was to investigate diltiazem administration in a community ED and determine the effect of varying doses on heart rate (HR) control, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Methods This is a retrospective, single-center study of adult patients treated with diltiazem for AFIB-RVR in the ED between January 1 and December 31, 2019. Inclusion criteria included pretreatment HR > 120 beats per minute (bpm). Patients were administered diltiazem at the discretion of the ED physician. Primary endpoint was time to achieve HR < 100 bpm after diltiazem. Secondary endpoints included mean weight-based dose of diltiazem, percentage of patients achieving HR < 100 bpm within 240 minutes of diltiazem, nadir SBP and nadir DBP. Results Ninety-nine patients were included in the study. Seventy-two percent of patients received ≤ 10 mg diltiazem bolus. Mean weight-based dose of diltiazem bolus was 0.13 mg/kg. Mean time to achieve HR < 100 bpm was 270 minutes for the entire cohort. Patients treated with ≥ 0.13 mg/kg diltiazem achieved an HR < 100 bpm at a mean time of 169 minutes compared to 318 minutes for < 0.13 mg/kg (p = 0.0107). HR control was achieved in 61% of patients who received ≥ 0.13 mg/kg compared to 36% of patients who received < 0.13 mg/kg diltiazem (p = 0.0213). No patients discontinued diltiazem for hypotension or bradycardia. The lowest recorded SBP and DBP within 240 minutes of diltiazem were 90 mmHg and 47 mmHg, respectively. There was no significant difference in the lowest SBP and DBP for patients who received < 0.13 mg/kg compared to ≥ 0.13 mg/mg diltiazem. Conclusion The majority of patients with AFIB RVR received a 10 mg non-weight-based diltiazem bolus dose in the ED. Diltiazem bolus dosing ≥ 0.13 mg/kg was associated with significantly improved times to achieve HR control compared to < 0.13 mg/kg and was not associated with hypotension or bradycardia.
Live Analysis of Position Effect Variegation Reveals Different Modes of Action for HP1 and Su(var)3-9

Position Effect Variegation (PEV) results from the juxtaposition of euchromatic and heterochromatic components of eukaryotic genomes, silencing genes near the new euchromatin/heterochromatin junctions. The degree of silencing is itself heritable through S-phase, giving rise to distinctive random patterns of cell clones expressing the genes intermixed with clones in which the genes are silenced. Much of what we know about epigenetic inheritance in the soma stems from work on PEV aimed at identifying the components of the silencing machinery and its mechanism of inheritance. Despite identifying two central gene activities - the Su(var)3-9 histone H3-Lysine-9 methyltransferase and the Su(var)205/HP1 methyl-H3-Lysine-9 binding protein - their role in PEV has been inferred from terminal phenotypes, leaving considerable gaps in understanding how PEV behaves through development. Here, we investigate the phenotypes of Su(var)3-9 and Su(var)205/HP1 mutations in live developing tissues. We discovered that mutations in Su(var)205/HP1 compromise the initial establishment of PEV in early embryogenesis. Later gains of heterochromatin-induced gene silencing are possible, but are unstable and lost rapidly. In contrast, mutations in Su(var)3-9 exhibit robust silencing early in development, but fail to maintain it through subsequent cell divisions. Our analyses show that while the terminal phenotypes of these mutations may appear identical, they have arrived at them through different developmental trajectories. We discuss how our findings further challenge existing models for epigenetic inheritance of heterochromatin-induced gene silencing.
Poetry, Palestine and posthumanism

Palestinian poets Nathalie Handal and Naomi Shihab Nye deploy nonhuman perspectives to mourn the lost homeland, reflecting on the Nakba (‘the Catastrophe’, the 1948 Palestinian exodus) as a site of...
Scoppola v. Italy (No. 3) : The Uncertain Progress of Prisoner Voting Rights in Europe

This Comment examines European disenfranchisement of prisoners in light of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees a right to free elections through Article 3 of Protocol No. 1. While many European states continue the longstanding practice of denying wrongdoers the right to vote, at least under certain circumstances, this practice has come under increasing criticism over the last several decades. In recent years, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has decided several cases addressing this issue, but these decisions have failed to clarify under what circumstances it is permissible for a state to deny prisoners, and former prisoners, the right to vote. The ECtHR’s ambiguous use of the margin of appreciation doctrine has only added to the confusion. This Comment suggests that the ECtHR should take a clear stand against prisoner disenfranchisement by only permitting the practice when truly necessary to protect the democratic process.
Geropsychiatric Nursing: A CLINICAL KNOWLEDGE BASE in Community and Institutional Settings

1. The term clinical knowledge base refers to the foundations and areas of knowledge that are integral to an independent and interdependent clinical discipline. 2. The clinical content essential to establish a research base in geropsychiatric nursing includes normal and abnormal aging, nature and magnitude of geriatric mental health problems, diagnostic categories, caregiver and family roles, and cultural determinants of mental health problems and care. 3. The clinical knowledge base for geropsychiatric nursing care in both community and institutional settings consists of the components identified above and the logical integration of each. Integration can be achieved by including these themes in the theoretical and clinical training of nurses.
Copper(I) complexes—III: Tetrakis, tris and bis amine copper(I) perchlorates☆☆☆

Abstract The treatment of Cu(I)ClO 4 with heterocyclic amines leads to the formation of complexes in which copper is tetra-, tri- and dicoordinated. Evidence that precludes coordination by perchlorate and confirms that the trisamine copper(I) complex contains triligated copper, is presented. I.R. results suggest that the formally dicoordinated complexes in fact possess a higher coordination number in the solid, due to the formation of π-complexes, metal clusters or electron deficient bonds. The overall coordination number of copper(I) in each complex is shown to be a function of the basicity and the steric requirements of the ligands and determines the resistance to air oxidation of copper(I). Unexpectedly, for a d 10 ion, several complexes show apparent magnetic moments which are quite large.
Information processing in adolescents with bipolar I disorder

Background: Cognitive models of bipolar I disorder (BD) may aid in identification of children who are especially vulnerable to chronic mood dysregulation. Information-processing biases related to memory and attention likely play a role in the development and persistence of BD among adolescents; however, these biases have not been extensively studied in youth with BD. Methods: We administered the selfreferent encoding task and the dot-probe task to adolescents with bipolar I disorder (BD, n = 35) and a demographically similar healthy comparison group (HC, n = 25) at baseline, and at a 1-year follow-up in a subset of this cohort ( n= 22 per group). Results: At both baseline and 1-year follow-up, there were significant interactions of group (BD, HC) and valence of stimulus (positive, negative adjective) on endorsement and recall of self-referent adjectives. HC adolescents endorsed and recalled more positive self-referent adjectives at baseline and follow-up while adolescents with BD endorsed and recalled more negative self-referent adjectives at baseline but not follow-up. Over time, depression symptomatology was associated with impaired memory for positive self-referent adjectives. There were no group differences in attentional bias at either time points. Conclusions: Adolescents with BD exhibit bias away from endorsement and recall of positive adjectives, which remained stable over time and independent of mood state. Keywords: Adolescence, bipolar disorder, information-processing, memory bias, longitudinal.
Identification of pilot-vehicle dynamics from in-flight tracking data

The increasing cost and complexity of ground simulation and flight test make it imperative that researchers and engineers maximize the amount of useful information they can obtain from these endeavors. Although the analytical techniques for identifying pilot-vehicle dynamics in well-defined flight tasks have been available for a number of years, the routine exercise of such techniques is still something of a rarity in simulation and flight test activity. The reason for this can often be traced to the fact that the effort involved in undertaking such identification often dominates the test activity itself. A nonintrusive identification program is exercised to shed light on the ability of such programs to serve as a practical tool for simulation and flight test engineers. Data from a simple but representative flight task involving an F-14 "pursuer" aircraft tracking a T-38 "target" aircraft in a 3-£ windup turn and in level flight are used. Comparative identification results are provided by a Fourier coefficient method that requires a carefully designed and implemented input consisting of a sum of sinusoids. The least-squares results compare quite favorably with those of the Fourier technique. An example of crossover frequency regression is uncovered and discussed in light of the conditions surrounding one of the flight test configurations.
Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling

Designed for students and researchers without an extensive quantitative background, this book offers an informative guide to the application, interpretation and pitfalls of structural equation modelling (SEM) in the social sciences. The book covers introductory techniques including path analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, and provides an overview of more advanced methods such as the evaluation of non-linear effects, the analysis of means in convariance structure models, and latent growth models for longitudinal data. Providing examples from various disciplines to illustrate all aspects of SEM, the book offers clear instructions on the preparation and screening of data, common mistakes to avoid and widely used software programs (Amos, EQS and LISREL). The book aims to provide the skills necessary to begin to use SEM in research and to interpret and critique the use of method by others.
Ignition and Flame Propagation in Oxy-Methane Mixtures Diluted With CO2

Ignition and flame propagation in methane/O2 mixtures diluted with CO2 are studied. A laser ignition system and dynamic pressure data are utilized to ignite the mixture and to record the combustion pressure, respectively. The laminar burning velocities (LBV) are obtained at room temperature and atmospheric pressure in a spherical combustion chamber. Flame initiation and propagation is recorded by using a high-speed camera in select experiments to visualize the effect of CO2 proportionality on the combustion behavior. The laminar burning velocity is studied for a range of equivalence ratios (ϕ =0.8–1.3, in steps of 0.1), and oxygen ratios, D=O2/(O2+CO2) (26–38% by volume). It was found that the LBV decreases by increasing the CO2 proportionality. It was observed that the flame propagates toward the laser at a faster rate as the CO2 proportionality increases. Current experiments are in very good agreement with existing literature data. The premixed flame model from CHEMKIN PRO [1] software and two mechanisms (GRI-Mech 3.0 [2] and ARAMCO Mech 1.3 [3]) are used to simulate the current data. In general, simulations are in reasonable agreement with current data though the mechanisms predict slower flame speeds. The LBV values obtained by the ARAMCO 1.3 mechanism are closer to the experimental values. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is carried out to understand the important reactions that influence the predicted flame speeds. Improvements to the GRI predictions are suggested after incorporating latest reaction rates from literature for key reactions.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Multiple squamous cell carcinomas in the setting of psoriasis treated with etanercept: a report of four cases and review of the literature.

Background Psoriasis is a common, chronic, hyperproliferative disease of the skin characterized by overexpression of type 1 cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α. There is concern that antitumor necrosis factor agents such as etanercept may increase the incidence of cutaneous malignancies; however, the data are conflicting. Our objective was to further understand the characteristics and association of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) development in patients with psoriasis who used etanercept. Methods Four patients with psoriasis were identified as having SCCs in the setting of etanercept. The histories of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. Results All four patients had lifelong psoriasis. The mean time of SCC onset was 11 months after etanercept therapy was begun (range, 1–17 months), and the number of SCCs in each patient ranged from five to more than 50. Conclusions Currently, reports are conflicting about the effect of etanercept on SCC development. We present the first case series of patients in whom SCC developed in the setting of etanercept therapy. More research is needed to better characterize the effects of etanercept on the development and behavior of SCC in patients with psoriasis.
Confucian Moral Cultivation, Longevity, and Public Policy

By investigating the link between the Confucian ideal of longevity and moral cultivation, I argue that Confucian moral cultivation is founded on the ideal of harmony, and, in this connection, it promotes a holistic, healthy life, of which longevity is an important component. My argument is internal to Confucianism, in the sense that it aims to show these concepts are coherently constructed within the Confucian philosophical framework; I do not go beyond the Confucian framework to prove its validity. Finally, I show that if these Confucian beliefs are true, they have serious implications for public policy-making in contemporary societies.