cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The 1-year impact of an emotion regulation intervention on early adolescent health risk behaviors.

Objective Sexual activity often begins in early adolescence, and adolescents with mental health symptoms are at greater risk for sexual activity and other health risks. This study aimed to evaluate a developmentally targeted intervention designed to enhance early adolescents' emotion regulation competencies as a strategy for reducing health risk behaviors, including sexual initiation. Method Adolescents 12 to 14 years old (N = 420; 53% male) with mental health symptoms participated in either an emotion regulation (ER) or health promotion (HP) intervention consisting of 12 after-school sessions. Participants completed questionnaires on laptop computers at baseline, 2-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups. Results Time to event analyses were used to compare intervention conditions on rate of initiation to vaginal sex. Results showed that participants in the ER condition were less likely to transition into vaginal sexual activity by 1-year follow-up than were those in the HP condition (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [0.36, 0.94], p = .01). However, those who were sexually active did not report differences in sexual risk behaviors (e.g., condomless sex). Participants in the ER condition were significantly less likely to report violence behaviors and showed improvement on a behavioral measure of emotion identification; however, they did not differ from HP participants on self-reports of emotional competence. Conclusions Emotion regulation strategies can be used to delay sexual initiation among early adolescents with mental health symptoms and may have an important role in health education. (PsycINFO Database Record
Analysis on Cao Qi-qiao's Artistic Image——A Female "Distorted by Money"

Cao Qi-qiao is a main character in The Golden Cangue,and a "heroine" in Zhang Ai-ling's writing.This image reflects the evil of human nature and "extreme pathological state".She humble but behave herself eager to excel,and experience the hardships of life and the emotional torture,which make her psychological distortions seriously.Because of the greed and possession of money,she lost normal humanity.Through careful and profound psychological analysis,the author presents a tragedy female image eroded the soul by money.
The culture of mentoring: Ethnocultural empathy and ethnic identity in mentoring for minority girls.

OBJECTIVES Many mentoring programs place minority group mentees with majority group mentors. These programs aim to promote beneficial outcomes for their diverse participants. The present study explores mentors of color and White mentors' ethnocultural empathy and ethnic identities in association with their minority group mentees' ethnic identities. METHOD Our study examined 95 mentoring pairs of middle school girls of color and college student women from both majority and minority group cultural backgrounds. RESULTS A series of linear regressions revealed an association between mentors' ethnocultural empathy and EI exploration/commitment and minority group mentees' ethnic identity exploration, regardless of the mentors' majority group status. CONCLUSIONS The results of this preliminary study suggest that mentors' cultural identity and empathy may be linked with mentees' willingness to explore their own ethnic identities. We discuss the implications for mentoring programs that seek to build participants' ethnic identities and ethnocultural empathy. (PsycINFO Database Record
Seed-mediated biomineralizaton toward the high yield production of gold nanoprisms.

Gold nanotriangles (Au NTs) with tunable edge length were synthesized via a green chemical route in the presence of the designed consensus sequence tetratricopeptide repeat (CTPR) protein, halide anions (Br−) and CTPR-stabilized Ag seeds. The well-defined morphologies, tailored plasmonic absorbance from visible-light to the near infrared (NIR) region, colloidal stability and biocompatibility are attributed to the synergistic action of CTPR, halide ions, and CTPR-stabilized Ag seeds.
Opinio Juris Sive Necessitatis and the Practice of Diplomatic Asylum

Repeated claims are put forth that a customary rule of law has grown out of the practice of diplomatic asylum in Latin America.1 In view of the undeniable frequency of the practice in this region,2 the matter would be simple enough if practice alone were an agreed source of law. On this score, however, there is by no means unanimous agreement.
Attraction of Insect Natural Enemies to Habitat Plantings in North Carolina

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the relative attractiveness of floral habitats that may provide nectar and pollen food resources to natural enemies of agricultural insect pests in North Caro...
Code relatives: detecting similarly behaving software

Detecting “similar code” is useful for many software engineering tasks. Current tools can help detect code with statically similar syntactic and–or semantic features (code clones) and with dynamically similar functional input/output (simions). Unfortunately, some code fragments that behave similarly at the finer granularity of their execution traces may be ignored. In this paper, we propose the term “code relatives” to refer to code with similar execution behavior. We define code relatives and then present DyCLINK, our approach to detecting code relatives within and across codebases. DyCLINK records instruction-level traces from sample executions, organizes the traces into instruction-level dynamic dependence graphs, and employs our specialized subgraph matching algorithm to efficiently compare the executions of candidate code relatives. In our experiments, DyCLINK analyzed 422+ million prospective subgraph matches in only 43 minutes. We compared DyCLINK to one static code clone detector from the community and to our implementation of a dynamic simion detector. The results show that DyCLINK effectively detects code relatives with a reasonable analysis time.
How to reconstruct the system's dynamics by differentiating interval-valued and set-valued functions

To predict the future state of a physical system, we must know the differential equations x = f(x) that describe how this state changes with time. In many practical situations, we can observe individual trajectories x(t). By differentiating these trajectories with respect to time, we can determine the values of f(x) for different states x; if we observe many such trajectories, we can reconstruct the function f(x). However, in many other cases, we do not observe individual systems, we observe a set X of such systems. We can observe how this set X changes, but not how individual states change. In such situations, we need to reconstruct the function f(x) based on the observations of such "set trajectories" X(t). In this paper, we show how to extend the standard differentiation techniques of reconstructing f(x) from vector-valued trajectories x(t) to general set-valued trajectories X(t).
Differential Functionality of Right and Left Parietal Activity in Controlling a Motor Vehicle

Driving a motor vehicle is an inherently complex task that requires robust control to avoid catastrophic accidents. Drivers must maintain their vehicle in the middle of the travel lane to avoid high speed collisions with other traffic. Interestingly, while a vehicle’s lane deviation is critical, studies have demonstrated that heading error is one of the primary variables drivers use to determine a steering response, which directly controls the position of the vehicle in the lane. In this study, we examined how the brain represents the dichotomy between control/response parameters (heading, reaction time, and steering wheel corrections) and task-critical parameters (lane deviation). Specifically, we examined EEG alpha band power (8Hz – 13Hz) from estimated sources in right and left parietal regions, and related this activity to four metrics of driving performance. Our results demonstrate differential task involvement between the two hemispheres: right parietal activity was most closely related to lane deviation, whereas left parietal activity was most closely related to heading error, reaction time, and steering responses. Furthermore, heading error, reaction time, and steering wheel corrections increased over the duration of the experiment while lane deviation did not. Collectively, our results suggest that the brain uses differential monitoring and control strategies in the right and left parietal regions to control a motor vehicle. Our results suggest that the regulation of this control changes over time while maintaining critical task performance. These results are interpreted in two complementary theoretical frameworks: the uncontrolled manifold and compensatory control theories. The central tenet of these frameworks permits performance variability in parameters (i.e., heading error, reaction time, and steering) so far as it does not interfere with critical task execution (i.e., lane deviation). Our results extend the existing research by demonstrating potential neural substrates for this phenomenon which may serve as potential targets for brain-computer interfaces that predict poor driving performance.
Dynamic molecular oxygen production in cometary comae

Abundant molecular oxygen was discovered in the coma of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko. Its origin was ascribed to primordial gaseous O_2 incorporated into the nucleus during the comet’s formation. This thesis was put forward after discounting several O_2 production mechanisms in comets, including photolysis and radiolysis of water, solar wind–surface interactions and gas-phase collisions. Here we report an original Eley–Rideal reaction mechanism, which permits direct O_2 formation in single collisions of energetic water ions with oxidized cometary surface analogues. The reaction proceeds by H_2O+ abstracting a surface O-atom, then forming an excited precursor state, which dissociates to produce O_2−. Subsequent photo-detachment leads to molecular O_2, whose presence in the coma may thus be linked directly to water molecules and their interaction with the solar wind. This abiotic O_2 production mechanism is consistent with reported trends in the 67P coma and raises awareness of the role of energetic negative ions in comets.
Patterns of reoperation after failed fundoplication: an analysis of 9462 patients

Little is known about the choice of reoperation after failed fundoplication for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Both redo fundoplication and conversion procedure to Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are safe and effective. We aimed to characterize the rates of different revisional procedures and to identify risk factors associated with failed fundoplication. Using a statewide database, we examined records for patients who underwent fundoplication between 2000 and 2010. The primary outcomes were the rate of each type of reoperation and the pattern of subsequent procedures. Demographics and comorbidities were used in a multivariable logistic regression model to identify risk factors associated with reoperation after fundoplication. A total of 9462 patients were included. Overall, 430 (4.5%) patients underwent reoperation. Of those, 46 (10.7%) patients underwent RYGB at first reoperation, with the remainder having a redo fundoplication. An additional five patients were converted to RYGB after undergoing a redo fundoplication (51 total patients converted to RYGB at any point, 11.9%). Eighty-three percent of patients converted to RYGB were obese, as opposed to 8% for redo fundoplication. A single redo fundoplication was done in 81% of patients, while 35 patients (8.1%) underwent two or more revisional procedures. On average, any reoperation was performed 2.9 years after fundoplication, with redo fundoplication 2.5 years and RYGB 6.5 years later. Age 30–49 years (vs. >70 years; OR 2.01, p = 0.011) and 50–69 years (vs. >70 years; OR 1.61, p = 0.011), female gender (OR 1.56, p = < 0.0001), and chronic pulmonary disease (OR 1.40, p = 0.0044) were associated with revisional surgery. Fundoplication has a low reoperation rate within a mean 8.3 years of follow-up. Redo fundoplication is more commonly performed and at an earlier point than conversion to RYGB. Younger age, female gender, and chronic pulmonary disease are associated with reoperation after fundoplication.
Adverse Drug Events: Identification and Attribution:

The definition of an adverse drug event should be tailored to one's purpose in examining the incident. Although the more specific of these definitions is required for scientific evaluation of the link between drug and event, other less stringent definitions are usually adequate for clinical purposes. Knowledge about the safety profile of a drug in humans is limited at the time of marketing. The mechanisms for supplementing safety data during postmarketing include (1) the Spontaneous Reporting System maintained by the Food and Drug Administration, (2) formal projects to assemble safety data on larger or more complex populations, and (3) formal projects designed to answer specific research questions. Judgments about attribution can be no better than the data that support them. The criteria applied by the clinician to the individual adverse drug experience to determine association differ from those required to establish causation based on epidemiologic evidence. In most situations, regulatory action on drug recall should be based on epidemiologic evidence. This article will discuss the choice of a definition for an adverse drug event, examine the extent and nature of the safety data assembled on a drug at the time it is marketed, propose the best methods for collecting additional information after marketing, and designate factors to be considered in judging a drug to be causally related to an adverse event.
Coherent generation of photonic fractional quantum Hall states in a cavity and the search for anyonic quasiparticles

We present and analyze a protocol in which polaritons in a noncoplanar optical cavity form fractional quantum Hall states. We model the formation of these states and present techniques for subsequently creating anyons and measuring their fractional exchange statistics. In this protocol, we use a rapid adiabatic passage scheme to sequentially add polaritons to the system, such that the system is coherently driven from $n$- to ($n+1$)-particle Laughlin states. Quasiholes are created by slowly moving local pinning potentials in from outside the cloud. They are braided by dragging the pinning centers around one another, and the resulting phases are measured interferometrically. The most technically challenging issue with implementing our procedure is that maintaining adiabaticity and coherence requires that the two-particle interaction energy ${V}_{0}$ be sufficiently large compared to the single-polariton decay rate $\ensuremath{\gamma}, {V}_{0}/\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gg}10{N}^{2}lnN$, where $N$ is the number of particles in the target state. While this condition is very demanding for present-day experiments where ${V}_{0}/\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\sim}50$, our protocol presents a significant advance over the existing protocols in the literature.
Evaluation of synthetic data for deep learning stereo depth algorithms on embedded platforms

Stereo vision is a very active field in the realm of computer vision and in recent years Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have proven to be very competitive against the state-of-the-art. However the performance of these networks are limited by the quality of the data that is used when training the CNNs. Data acquisition of high quality labelled images is a time-consuming and expensive process. By exploiting the power of modern-day powerful GPUs, we present a synthetic dataset with fully rectified stereo image pairs and accompanying accurate ground truth information that can be used for training and testing stereo algorithms. We provide validation of the quality of our dataset by performing quantitative experiments that suggest pre-training deep learning algorithms on synthetic data can perform competitively against networks trained on real life data. Testing on the KITTI data-set[1], we found the accuracy performance difference between the real and synthetically trained networks was within a margin of 1.8%. We also illustrate the functionality synthetic data can provide, by conducting a key performance index on a selection of conventional and deep learning stereo algorithms available on embedded platforms and compared them under common metrics. We also focused on power consumption and performance and we were able to achieve a compute the matching cost from a CNN performing inference on an embedded device at 11.9 FPS at 1.2 Watts.
Self-organizing techniques to resource block scheduling in LTE-A communication systems

The expansion in size and complexity of LTE and LTE-A networks is affecting their performance and their reliability. The consequence of these effects appears in lowering e-node B and individual users throughputs, as well as in increasing Block Error-Rates and overall delays. This work exploits the new Quality of Service feature of Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) that LTE-A systems have introduced in order to alleviate these negative effects. Specifically, we introduce Self Organizing and Neural Network (SONN) algorithms towards providing adaptive solutions. Adaptive Resource-Block scheduling enhances downlink throughput and increases the wireless network capacity as well. Moreover, we present comparative metric performance of the developed algorithms to well-known existing algorithms under the same parameters in extensive standard simulation environment.
Surgeon practice patterns of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for degenerative disease in the United States: A measure of low-value care

This study measures surgeon practice patterns of arthroscopic partial meniscectomy–only surgical procedures.
LINKING THE LOCAL CLIMATE ZONES AND LAND SURFACE TEMPERATURE TO INVESTIGATE THE SURFACE URBAN HEAT ISLAND, A CASE STUDY OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, U.S.

Abstract. The Local Climate Zones (LCZs) concept was initiated in 2012 to improve the documentation of Urban Heat Island (UHI) observations. Despite the indispensable role and initial aim of LCZs concept in metadata reporting for atmospheric UHI research, its role in surface UHI investigation also needs to be emphasized. This study incorporated LCZs concept to study surface UHI effect for San Antonio, Texas. LCZ map was developed by a GIS-based LCZs classification scheme with the aid of airborne Lidar dataset and other freely available GIS data. Then, the summer LST was calculated based Landsat imagery, which was used to analyse the relations between LST and LCZs and the statistical significance of the differences of LST among the typical LCZs, in order to test if LCZs are able to efficiently facilitate SUHI investigation. The linkage of LCZs and land surface temperature (LST) indicated that the LCZs mapping can be used to compare and investigate the SUHI. Most of the pairs of LCZs illustrated significant differences in average LSTs with considerable significance. The intra-urban temperature comparison among different urban classes contributes to investigate the influence of heterogeneous urban morphology on local climate formation.
Gas Transport in Liquid Crystalline Polymers

ABSTRACT The gas transport characteristics of main chain liquid crystalline polymers have been examined in order to understand the nature of the mesophase and what opportunities these materials offer for useful membranes or barriers. Is the liquid crystalline state more like a liquid (or amorphous glass) or a crystal? Experimental investigations of commercial aromatic polyamide and polyester liquid crystalline materials are reviewed. All of these materials prove to be exceptional barriers to permeation. For the polyesters, this is largely due to an extraordinarily low gas solubility. Analyses in terms of two phase and free volume models suggest that most of the transport may be occurring in a small volume fraction of a less dense boundary phase. The polyamides do not show the unusually low solubility; thus, a different physical model must be imagined for these materials.
Utilizing the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) to increase referral to ancillary support services for severely symptomatic patients with gynecologic cancer

Abstract Objective The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) Network has developed a comprehensive repository of electronic patient reported outcomes measures (ePROs) of major symptom domains that have been validated in cancer patients. Their use for patients with gynecologic cancer has been understudied. Our objective was to establish feasibility and acceptability of PROMIS ePRO integration in a gynecologic oncology outpatient clinic and assess if it can help identify severely symptomatic patients and increase referral to supportive services. Methods English-speaking patients with a confirmed history of gynecologic cancer completed PROMIS ePROs on iPads in the waiting area of an outpatient gynecologic oncology clinic. Symptom scores were calculated for each respondent and grouped using documented severity thresholds. Response data was compared with clinicopathologic characteristics across symptom domains. Severely symptomatic patients were offered referral to ancillary services and asked to complete post-exposure surveys assessing acceptability of the ePRO. Results Of the 336 patients who completed ePROs, 35% had active disease and 19% had experienced at least one disease recurrence. Sixty-nine percent of the cohort demonstrated moderate to severe physical dysfunction (60%), pain (36%), fatigue (28%), anxiety (9%), depression (8%), and sexual dysfunction (32%). Thirty-nine (12%) severely symptomatic patients were referred to services such as psychiatry, palliative care, pain management, social work or integrative oncology care. Most survey respondents identified the ePROs as helpful (78%) and easy to complete (92%). Conclusions Outpatient PROMIS ePRO administration is feasible and acceptable to gynecologic oncology patients and can help identify severely symptomatic patients for referral to ancillary support services.
Proteoglycan synthesis by bovine keratocytes and corneal fibroblasts: maintenance of the keratocyte phenotype in culture.

PURPOSE. To determine the effect of serum on morphology, growth, and proteoglycan synthesis by primary cultures of collagenase-isolated bovine keratocytes. METHODS. Keratocytes were isolated from bovine corneas using sequential collagenase digestion and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM), with and without fetal bovine serum (FBS). Proteoglycans synthesized by the cells in culture and by keratocytes in intact cornea culture were metabolically radiolabeled with 35 SO 4 . The proteoglycans were characterized by their sensitivity to keratanase, chondroitinase ABC, and heparatinase and by their size on Superose 6 HR. Cell number was determined by measuring DNA content of the culture dishes. RESULTS. Keratocytes cultured in 10% FBS proliferated, appeared fibroblastic, and synthesized only 9% of the total glycosaminoglycan as keratan sulfate (KS), whereas cells in serum-free media were quiescent, appeared dendritic, and synthesized 47% KS, a value similar to the 45% KS for corneas radiolabeled overnight in organ culture. This increased proportion of KS synthesis in serum-free media was caused by a moderate increase in KS synthesis combined with a substantial decrease in chondroitin sulfate (CS) synthesis. Fractionation on Superose 6 High Resolution showed the size and relative amounts of the CS- and KS-containing proteoglycans synthesized by keratocytes in serum-free media also more closely resembled that of keratocytes in corneas in organ culture than keratocytes in media containing serum. CONCLUSIONS. A comparison of proteoglycan synthesis and cell morphology between keratocytes in corneas in organ culture and in cell culture indicates that keratocytes maintain a more native biosynthetic phenotype and appearance when cultured in serum-free media. These results also suggest that culturing in the presence of serum fundamentally alters the keratocyte phenotype to an activated cell, mimicking certain changes observed during wound healing.
USE OF VANADIUM DIHYDRIDE FOR PRODUCTION OF HIGH-PRESSURE HYDROGEN GAS

This report describes a small, laboratory scale, pumping system which is used to compress hydrogen or its isotopes to high pressures. The system, designed for filling micro-targets for laser-fusion experiments, has successfully pumped small amounts of deuterium and deuterium-tritium mixes to pressures up to 138 Mpa (20,000 psi). The pressure is generated by the decomposition of vanadium dihydride but other possible metal-hydride systems are discussed. Operation and safety aspects are also discussed.
Aspects of Mycorrhizae in Desert Plants

Mycorrhizal symbioses are critical to desert plants since they face the challenges of scarce, sporadic precipitation, nutrient deficiencies, intense solar radiation, and the high temperatures found in hot deserts. Deserts are covering increasingly more of the Earth's surface area as desertification increases globally. Mycorrhizal desert plants have a greater chance of survival in the harsh desert environment. Desert plants form mycorrhizae with endomycorrhizal arbuscular fungi and with ectomycorrhizal fungi. Both form extensive networks of hyphae in the soil, and glomalin, a glycoprotein produced by hyphae of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, is crucial in soil structure and carbon storage. Mycorrhizal desert plants are important in agriculture, ecosystem biology, and conservation of the deserts.
Subnuclear Localization and Intranuclear Trafficking of Transcription Factors

Nuclear microenvironments are architecturally organized subnuclear sites where the regulatory machinery for gene expression, replication, and repair resides. This compartmentalization is necessary to attain required stoichiometry for organization and assembly of regulatory complexes for combinatorial control. Combined and methodical application of molecular, cellular, biochemical, and in vivo genetic approaches is required to fully understand complexities of biological control. Here we provide methodologies to characterize nuclear organization of regulatory machinery by in situ immunofluorescence microscopy.
Abnormal Phenotypes Due to Autosomal Aneuploidy or Polyploidy

Only three autosomal trisomies, those for chromosomes 13, 18, and 21, occur with an appreciable frequency in liveborn infants, and only one, trisomy 21, is compatible with long-term survival in a large proportion of cases. Trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13 produce three different and characteristic syndromes despite some degree of overlap. Traits they share include mental retardation, congenital heart defects, malformations in other organ systems, seizures, and growth retardation. These features are also common with other chromosome imbalances. For example, a ventricular septal defect is found in 47% of infants with trisomy 13, in 34% of 18-trisomics, and in 20% of 21-trisomies (Lewandowski and Yunis, 1977). In general, no single trait is exclusive to a particular chromosome imbalance, but a few tend to be associated with a particular chromosome imbalance, such as the persistence of fetal hemoglobin and abnormal neutrophil projections in trisomy 13. The increasingly routine use of ultrasound sometimes identifies fetal abnormalities at a stage of pregnancy at which a rapid decision is needed if termination of pregnancy is an option. Interphase FISH with DNA probes for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y permits rapid diagnosis of aneuploidy of any of these chromosomes, or of polyploidy (Gersen et al., 1995).
Of Mice and Women: Genetic Analysis of Breast Cancer In Families

Breast cancer is genetic, in the sense that breast tumor development is initiated by alterations—mutations, somatic recombinations, duplications, and so on—of DNA sequences in breast epithelial cells. These alterations may be inherited in the germ line, or may be due to somatic events induced by environmental mutagens. If an alteration is inherited in the germ line in a family, then an unusually large number of breast cancer cases are likely to appear in that family. If inherited alterations are common, then breast cancer will tend to cluster in families.
Competition and Collaboration in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks present a number of challenges to system designers, including notably the efficient use of limited resources such as bandwidth and energy. One way that such challenges have been addressed in recent years is through an examination of interactions among nodes that can lead to greater efficiencies in the use of wireless resources. This chapter examines two types of such interactions: competition among nodes in infrastructure networks, and collaboration among nodes in ad hoc networks. In the first context, the network is viewed as an economic system, in which sensors behave as agents competing for radio resources to optimize the energy efficiency with which they transmit messages. A game theoretic formalism is used to analyze the effects of various design choices and constraints on energy efficiency. In the second context, collaborative techniques for optimizing the use of radio resources are considered. Here, the focus is primarily on distributed inference, in which distinctive features of wireless sensor networks can be exploited through collaboration among nodes to effect a tradeoff between inferential accuracy and energy consumption.
Recommendations for Processing Head CT Data

Many research applications of neuroimaging use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As such, recommendations for image analysis and standardized imaging pipelines exist. Clinical imaging, however, relies heavily on X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans for diagnosis and prognosis. Currently, there is only one image processing pipeline for head CT, which focuses mainly on head CT data with lesions. We present tools and a complete pipeline for processing CT data, focusing on open-source solutions, that focus on head CT but are applicable to most CT analyses. We describe going from raw DICOM data to a spatially normalized brain within CT presenting a full example with code. Overall, we recommend anonymizing data with Clinical Trials Processor, converting DICOM data to NIfTI using dcm2niix, using BET for brain extraction, and registration using a publicly-available CT template for analysis.
Assessing the Financial Toxicity of Radiation Oncology Patients Using the Validated Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity as a Patient-Reported Outcome

Abstract Purpose The financial burden of cancer care may significantly affect patient quality of life and clinical outcomes. However, the financial effect of radiation therapy on patients remains difficult to characterize, in part owing to the lack of standardized methods to measure patient distress related to treatment costs. Here, we assessed financial burden in the radiation oncology population by applying the Comprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST), a patient-reported outcome measure, which has been validated in medical oncology patients. Methods and Materials Consecutive patients from a single academic radiation oncology clinic were recruited. Participants completed the 11-item COST-Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy questionnaire, with total possible scores ranging from 0 to 44. Scores were collected along with data regarding patient demographics, insurance, diagnosis, and treatment. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with higher financial burden as measured by COST. Results A total of 167 patients completed the COST questionnaire. Lower COST scores indicated higher financial toxicity. The population's mean COST score was 21.9 (95% confidence interval, 20.5-23.3). Fifteen percent of participants reported grade 2 to 3 COST toxicity, corresponding to a moderate or severe effect on quality of life. Use of concurrent or previous systemic therapy was significantly associated with lower COST scores on univariate analysis (P = .03), but not significant on multivariate analysis. A subset analysis of posttreatment follow-up patients identified rural residence and recent completion of radiation therapy as significant correlates of worse COST scores on univariate analysis, and rural residence remained independently associated on multivariate analysis (P = .017). Conclusions COST effectively identified a significant number of radiation oncology patients experiencing financial toxicity, indicating its prevalence in this population. A correlate of financial toxicity in this population is the use of systemic therapy. Of those who have completed radiation therapy, rural residence was independently associated with worse financial toxicity.
Abstract A42: Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma identifies a novel cell type expressing the intestinal stem cell marker OLFM4

Pancreatic ductal adenomcarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal forms of cancer with a 5-year survival rate of 8%. To determine the composition of different cell types in PDAC, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of two resected patient tumors. Nine distinct cell types were identified: (1) ductal carcinoma cells expressing mutant KRAS, (2) normal pancreatic islet cells, (3) B-lymphocytes, (4) macrophages, (5) mast cells, (6) nerve cells, (7-8) two types of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and (9) a previously unidentified epithelial type with distinctly high expression of OLFM4 and CRISP3. Histologic analysis of human PDAC and chronic pancreatitis (CP) tissue sections confirmed the presence of this distinct cell type and furthermore demonstrated that it corresponded to inflamed/injured ducts and early pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasms (PanINs) but that actual PDACs did not express OLFM4. CRISP3 was not always expressed in this new cell type, but the expression of OLFM4 was always detected in these histologic structures. This distinct pancreatic epithelial cell type was also observed in mouse models for chronic pancreatitis and in mutant-KRAS induced PanINs. We hypothesize that inflammation-induced OLFM4 expression helps drive PanIN formation, and that its expression could be exploited for early PDAC detection. We are currently performing functional studies using organoids to address the role that OLFM4 might play in generation of this distinct cell type. Citation Format: Manisha Rao, Alice Nemajerova, Jinyu Li, Mei Gao, Ki Oh, Richard Moffit, Joseph Kim, George Georgakis, Aaron Sasson, Agnieszka Bialkowkska, Scott Powers. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma identifies a novel cell type expressing the intestinal stem cell marker OLFM4 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr A42.
Leadership development in complex health systems: a qualitative study.

Objective Leadership is associated with organisational performance in healthcare, including quality, safety and clinical outcomes for patients. Leadership development programmes have proliferated in recent years. Nevertheless, very few have examined participant experiences in depth in order to understand which programmatic aspects they regard as most valuable relative to leadership in increasingly complex systems, or whether and how learnings may sustain over time. Accordingly, we explored experiences of participants in an interdisciplinary leadership development programme using qualitative methods over an extended look-back period. Setting Health and social care sectors in the UK. Participants Key informants from three cohorts of individuals working in leadership roles in health and social care in the UK: 2013/2014, 2015/2016 and 2017/2018. We contacted 32 participants, and 26 completed interviews (81% response rate). Primary and secondary outcomes We explored (1) whether and how specific skills and competencies developed during the programme were applied and/or sustained over time, and (2) whether and how the impact of the programme changed as alumni progressed through their career. Results Three major recurrent themes emerged from participants’ experiences: (1) specific features of the programme meaningfully impact professional development at multiple levels; (2) the coupling of a professional network and practical tools allowed participants to address system-wide problems in new ways and (3) participants describe a level of learning that sustained and amplified over time with increased complexity in their work. Conclusion This work highlights specific design characteristics of leadership development programmes that may help promote relevance and impact. Programme learnings can be translated into practice in substantive ways, with potential for the benefits of successful leadership development efforts to amplify, not fade, over time.
Impact of a new helicopter base on transport time and survival in a rural adult trauma population

Abstract Background Significant disparities in access to prompt helicopter transport exist among rural trauma populations. We evaluated the impact of an additional helicopter base on transport time and mortality in a rural adult trauma population. Materials and methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with trauma transported by helicopter from scene to a level one trauma center between 2014 and 2018. A new rural helicopter base added to the trauma center's catchment area in 2016 served as the transition time for an interrupted time series analysis. Patients injured in this base's county and adjoining counties were analyzed. Baseline characteristics were compared with a Student's t-test and Pearson's chi-squared test. Cox and linear regression models evaluated the new base's effect on mortality and transport time, respectively. Results A total of 332 patients were analyzed: 120 (36.1%) transported before the addition of the new helicopter base and 212 (63.9%) transported after. Patients transported after the addition of the base had higher injury severity score (13.7 versus 10.1, P Conclusions Local helicopter transport units may confer improved survival for the injured patient. This study demonstrates the important role of helicopter transport within a regional trauma system and the impact that expanded access to rapid air transport can have on mortality.
Photoexcited State Properties and Antibacterial Activities of Carbon Dots Relevant to Mechanistic Features and Implications

Abstract Carbon dots (CDots) are strongly absorptive over the visible spectrum, with the effective photon-harvesting driving rich excited state processes and properties. In this work, spectroscopic probing of these processes and properties is coupled with the evaluation of the photoinduced bactericidal function of CDots, aimed toward making correlations among the findings from the former and those from the latter on the inactivation of bacterial pathogens. Within the general mechanistic framework for CDots, the observed effective and efficient antibacterial activities of the CDots under visible light are attributed to major contributions by the initially photo-generated electrons and holes that are trapped at passivated surface defect sites of the dots, in addition to the traditional reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the emissive excited states from the recombination of the redox pairs. Such major contributions to the inactivation of the bacteria by the separated redox species in CDots can not be quenched by ROS scavengers commonly used in the study of photodynamic effects with classical molecular photosensitizers, thus making light-activated CDots uniquely potent antimicrobial agents. The characteristic features of photoexcited CDots and their related mechanistic implications are discussed in reference to the similar behaviors and mechanistic model of conventional semiconductor quantum dots.
Emergence of a Highly Fit SARS-CoV-2 Variant.

Vaccinating against SARS-CoV-2 Early in the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus mutated, and the mutant form is now the most prevalent genotype worldwide. The vaccines currently being tested in clinica...
Emergent Lung Resection for Massive Hemoptysis From Bronchial Malformation

Abstract Bronchial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are usually asymptomatic findings noted on imaging but may present with massive hemoptysis following endobronchial rupture. Initial treatment usually involves transcatheter embolization with surgery reserved for refractory cases. Here, we present a patient with large-volume hemoptysis following bronchial AVM rupture. Attempted endovascular management was unsuccessful due to unfavorable anatomy and hemodynamic instability, necessitating emergent use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) followed by right bilobectomy.
“Power relations in global supply chains and the unequal distribution of costs during crises: Squeezing suppliers and workers during the Covid-19 pandemic”

In early 2020, apparel brands and retailers cancelled USD 40 billion in garment orders with highly adverse consequences for suppliers and workers. Their actions illustrate the power asymmetries in global supply chains and the unequal distribution of costs during crises. The cancellations provoked a tentative collaboration between suppliers and worker rights advocates and an effective ?pay up? campaign. Yet, buyers subsequently intensified their squeeze on suppliers with adverse impacts on workers, leading to calls for binding agreements. These dynamics arguments are explored through original survey data, supplier questionnaires, stakeholder interviews, a time-line analysis, and trade data analysis.
Cells for musculoskeletal tissue engineering

Central to the field of regenerative medicine and tissue engineering is the ability to manipulate stem/progenitor cells for the benefit of regeneration of tissues and organs. This chapter describes stem/progenitor cell types that have been utilized in the regeneration of musculoskeletal tissues. Pluripotent stem cells can produce all three germ layers, although their safe and reproducible differentiation into specific tissue lineages of mesoderm cells such as osteoblasts, tenocytes, or chondrocytes is not yet well delineated. Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells (MSCs) from bone marrow, periosteum, adipose, and other sources have been used broadly not only for repair of musculoskeletal defects, but also other disease models such as diabetes, myocardial ischemia, stroke, and graft-versus-host disease. The behavior of stem/progenitor cells is governed by signaling cues including growth factors and transcriptional factors, and increasingly demonstrated by biomaterials that modulate cell–cell interactions and tissue oxygenation. In this chapter, we critically evaluate current literature on stem/progenitor cells and their regulatory cues in musculoskeletal tissue engineering.
Eye Movement Recording

There are numerous uses for technologies that sense and measure the motion of the eyes. Four of these technologies are in common usage today: electrooculography, infrared reflectance oculography, video oculography, and magnetic search coil oculography. Each technology has its own set of capabilities, advantages, and disadvantages.
D-T gas injection system for TFTR neutral beams

The authors describe the design of the TFTR (Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor) NB (neutral beam) D-T Gas Injection System and the results of tests conducted to confirm its functionality. Detailed design is progressing for a NB TGIS (tritium gas injection system) which includes the option of injecting either H/sub 2/, D/sub 2/, or T/sub 2/ into each of the 12 neutralizers at ground potential based on limited experiments to date. Most commercial components have been ordered and fabrication of special hardware is underway. Additional tests are planned to confirm LPIS (long pulse ion sources) operations compatibility with neutralizer gas injection, to inject the gas through shorter tubes which would simplify installation and interactions in LPIS parameters with alternating gases between pulses from H/sub 2/ to D/sub 2/ /sup 3/He. Tests of piezoelectric valves operated with the plenum pressure feedback controller will be conducted and a prototype NB TGIS will be installed and tested on TFTR during the September 91 to May 92 operational period. Installation of the complete system will take place during the pre-tritium shutdown presently scheduled for 1992-3. >
HIV-Tat protein induces P-glycoprotein expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells

Among the different factors which can contribute to CNS alterations associated with HIV infection, Tat protein is considered to play a critical role. Evidence indicates that Tat can contribute to brain vascular pathology through induction of endothelial cell activation. In the present study, we hypothesized that Tat can affect expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC). P-gp is an ATP-dependent cellular efflux transporter which is involved in the removal of specific non-polar molecules, including drugs used for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Treatment of BMEC with Tat1−72 resulted in P-gp overexpression both at mRNA and protein levels. These alterations were confirmed in vivo in brain vessels of mice injected with Tat1−72 into the hippocampus. Furthermore, pre-treatment of BMEC with SN50, a specific NF-κB inhibitor, protected against Tat1−72-stimulated expression of mdr1a gene, i.e. the gene which encodes for P-gp in rodents. Tat1−72-mediated changes in P-gp expression were correlated with increased rhodamine 123 efflux, indicating the up-regulation of transporter functions of P-gp. These results suggest that Tat-induced overexpression of P-gp in brain microvessels may have significant implications for the development of resistance to HAART and may be a contributing factor for low efficacy of HAART in the CNS.
Peritoneal and mediastinal highly differentiated follicular carcinoma of ovarian origin

A 70-year-old female patient presented to her primary care doctor with persistent elevated alkaline phosphatase of suspected metastatic etiology. Computed tomography demonstrated epicardial and peritoneal nodules. Biopsy of one of the peritoneal nodules revealed thyroid tissue and extraovarian struma ovarii was considered. The patient had a history of remote total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy 31 years prior for endometriosis with no available pathology from that surgery. The patient recalls being told that she had a left ovarian cyst. A thyroid ultrasound was performed that demonstrated multiple nodules without concerning features; however, due to high clinical suspicion, a total thyroidectomy was performed. Upon full histological evaluation a 0.5 cm papillary microcarcinoma was found. Given the rarity of metastatic papillary cancer to the peritoneum and the small size and grade of the tumor, a diagnosis of highly differentiated follicular carcinoma of ovarian origin was favored. The patient was subsequently treated with radioiodine therapy.
Accelerated conditioning for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Abstract A conditioning process is usually needed for a newly fabricated proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell to be activated. Depending on the membrane electrode assemblies, this process can take hours and even days to complete. To provide for accelerated conditioning techniques that can complete the process in a short time, this paper compares various reported methods to condition a PEM single cell. The major objectives are to identify accelerated conditioning approaches that can significantly reduce the conditioning duration for the existing conditioning regime in an operationally easy manner, and to understand the fundamental principles that govern accelerated conditioning. Various effects investigated include temperature, cycling steps, and cycling frequencies. Other techniques, such as short circuiting, hydrogen pumping, and hot water circulation, are also discussed. For each technique, measurements are taken using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV).