cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroligins and neurexins: Synaptic bridges implicated in autism

Neuroligins and neurexins are molecules that bridge the gaps between one neuron and another at synapses in the brains of humans and other animals. Recent human clinical genetics studies have revealed mutations in the genes that code for neuroligins and neurexins in some patients with autism spectrum disorders. These mutations alter the function of these synaptic bridge molecules and thereby alter the function of synapses. This leads to abnormally altered communication between neurons in neuronal circuits of the brain. When these mutations in the human genes are reproduced in mice, the mice show abnormal social behaviors and other behaviors relevant to human autism. Using these genetic animal models, neuroscientists are now in a position to decipher the precise functional abnormalities in the brain that result from these autism-associated genetic mutations. Ongoing studies are using recordings from brain slices in these mouse models to understand the exact problems with brain function and to identify drugs or other treatments that can be used to normalize the function of brain synapses and circuits. Efforts to use this information to treat behavioral abnormalities in mouse models and ultimately in patients with autism are underway.
Estimating Heating and Cooling Loads

The calculation of “heating and cooling loads” often is a borderline problem that lies between the design of buildings and that of equipment. The design of a heating system, for example, is a primary concern of the equipment engineer, but the size and type of equipment required are greatly influenced by the type of building construction. A similar situation exists with refrigeration and other installations involving heat exchange. This interdependence makes it desirable for the building designer to understand the relation between structural characteristics and equipment load.
Delegated information acquisition with moral hazard

Abstract We analyze a principal–agent problem with moral hazard where a principal searches for an opportunity of uncertain return, and hires an agent to evaluate available options. The agent's effort affects the informativeness of a signal about an option's return. Based on the information provided by the agent, the principal decides whether to exercise the option at hand. We derive properties of the optimal contract in both static and dynamic versions of the problem. We show that there are intermediate values of the prior probability that the option is of high quality at which positive effort cannot be sustained. We also show that if the prior is below a threshold, then the agent is rewarded for delivering ‘bad news’ about the option's quality. We derive distortions (relative to the first best) on the implemented effort level and optimal stopping decision. For some parameter values, it is optimal for the principal to commit to an ex-post suboptimal stochastic decision to exercise an option.
Applying a 'Persona Test' for Newsgatheirng Privilege to Food Lion v. Capital Cities/ABC

A growing number of plaintiffs unhappy with news coverage of their activities have sued the media, alleging not garden-variety defamation restricted by application of the First Amendment, but non-speech torts, contractual wrongs and statutory violations committed during the newsgathering process prior to publication. Although the breadth of the First Amendment protection for the media from state and federal regulation of publication is clear, the Court has been far less precise in evaluating whether and to what extent the First Amendment protects acts committed during prepublication newsgathering from liability for torts other than defamation. The Comment urges that the level of constitutional protection for the act of newsgathering should turn on the defendant's "persona" at the time of the alleged tortious behavior. That is, if a defendant was acting in a press persona, using the challenged reporting techniques to uncover democratically relevant, otherwise unavailable information, the behavior is entitled to more First Amendment protection. If the defendant was acting in a corporate persona, using the challenged reporting techniques to uncover information or pictures or footage that is at the outer edge of citizen self-governance but is appealing to consumers and thus a contribution to advertising profit, it is entitled to less First Amendment protection.
Religion, Science, and Sex: Faith, Hope, and Transcendental Love in Four African Novels

"When we turn to postcolonial novels set in Africa, we find the fallacy in the divine-platonic formulation of erotic-carnal love, that one kind is being confused with the other, and the consequences are disillusioning. Needless to say, this myth fails almost every time, disastrously so in Tayeb Salih’s Season of Migration to the North, Nadine Gordimer’s The Pickup, and Norman Rush’s Mortals. On the other hand, the failure of sex is non-existent in Chinua Achebe’s Anthills of the Savannah, because in this narrative, the mystified sexual energy is turned on and quickly harnessed and channeled into illusory prophecy and proto-feminist politics."
Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma according to hepatitis B virus genotype in Alaska Native people

Background & Aims Most regions of the world have ≤3 co-circulating hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, which limits direct comparisons of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk among HBV-infected persons by genotype. We evaluated HCC incidence by HBV genotype in a cohort of Alaska Native (AN) persons where five HBV genotypes (A, B, C, D, F) have been identified. Methods Our cohort comprised AN persons with chronic HBV infection identified during 1983–2012 who consented to participate in this study. Cohort persons were offered annual hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) testing and semi-annual HCC screening. We developed a logistic regression model to compare HCC risk by genotype, adjusting for age, sex, region and HBeAg status. Results Among the 1235 consenting study participants, 711 (57.6%) were male, 510 (41.3%) were HBeAg positive at cohort entry and 43 (3.5%) developed HCC. The HBV genotype was known for 1142 (92.5%) persons (13.5% A, 3.9% B, 6.7% C, 56.9% D, 19.0% F). The HCC incidence/1000 person-years of follow-up for genotypes A, B, C, D and F was 1.3, 0, 5.5, 0.4 and 4.2 respectively. Compared with persons with HBV genotype B/D infection, the HCC risk was higher for persons with genotypes A [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 3.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14–13.74], C (aOR: 16.3, 95% CI: 5.20–51.11) and F (aOR: 13.9, 95% CI: 5.30–36.69). Conclusion HBV genotype is independently associated with HCC risk. AN persons with genotypes A, C and F are at higher risk compared with genotypes B or D.
Compassion fatigue among disability camp staff: an exploratory study

ABSTRACTBeing compassionate to others can take its toll on practitioners working in emotionally exhausting professions such as recreational therapy (RT). Research that examines compassion satisfaction/compassion fatigue (CS/CF) in allied health settings is in abundance, but is noticeably absent in RT settings. This paper examines the levels of CS/CF in students working at a therapeutic camp for youth with multiple disabilities in the United States. The findings of the study revealed that: (1) the sample scored in the “high” range on the CS subscale; “average” on the burnout subscale; and “low” in the secondary stress trauma (STS) subscale; and (2) significant differences were found in CS/CF scores based on age and academic major. This research also reveals the importance of training in advance of therapeutic camp experiences towards the end of increasing CS, reducing burnout and STS. The practical implications for students and recreational therapists point to the need for training, awareness of the signs ...
The Numbers of Daughters Necessary for Progeny Tests in the Fowl

Abstract INTRODUCTION FOR the past ten years the junior author has been breeding fowls resistant to disease, particularly to lymphomatosis. During the course of the work it became evident that limiting factors of great importance were (1) the relatively small numbers of breeding birds that could be tested in any year, (2) the difficulty of selecting unproven cockerels that would transmit viability, and hence (3) the very small number of good, proven sires available for use in a second year or longer. When the standards set up require that the sire’s progeny must excel the flock average, not merely in viability but also in egg production, and at the same time be satisfactory in egg size, in body size and in hatchability of eggs, it is unusual to find even a quarter of the cockerels tested in one year eligible for re-use in the next. Furthermore, when the flocks under test . . .
State and chemical drive modulate respiratory variability.

The quantification of respiratory variability may provide insight into the integrative control of breathing. To test the hypothesis that sleep and/or increased chemical drive modifies respiratory v...
Winter's Bone: directed by Debra Granik, with screenplay by Debra Granik and Anne Rosellini. Based on a novel by Daniel Woodrell (2006). Produced by Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan–Yorkin. Los Angeles, CA: Anonymous Content, 2010.

Winter's Bone, released in 2010, was nominated for four Oscars. It received 52 other award nominations and 26 wins. It is a film with the potential to affect every viewer, albeit in dramatically di...
Highly selective quantum sieving of D2 from H2 by a metal-organic framework as determined by gas manometry and infrared spectroscopy.

The quantum sieving effect between D2 and H2 is examined for a series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) over the temperature range 77–150 K. Isothermal adsorption measurements demonstrate a consistently larger isosteric heat of adsorption for D2 vs H2, with the largest difference being 1.4 kJ/mol in the case of Ni-MOF-74. This leads to a low-pressure selectivity for this material that increases from 1.5 at 150 K to 5.0 at 77 K. Idealized adsorption solution theory indicates that the selectivity decreases with increasing pressure, but remains well above unity at ambient pressure. Infrared measurements on different MOF materials show a strong correlation between selectivity and the frequency of the adsorbed H2 translational band. This confirms that the separation is predominantly due to the difference in the zero-point energies of the adsorbed isotopologues.
Failure Diagnosis in Steel and Iron Smelting Equipment's Applied Research

In modernized steel and iron smelting,along with mechanical device's large scale,the modernization and the automation,mechanical device's failure diagnosis question receives more and more takes seriously. This article first introduced the breakdown will examine the failure diagnosis technology the development as well as future predict that will then unify the steel and iron profession mechanical device characteristic,proposed the steel and iron smelting interruption system,and aimed at this kind of system characteristic to conduct the research.
Freeway Congestion Estimation Using Probe Vehicles

The quantification of traffic congestion is critical to effective freeway traffic management.A congestion quantification method based on probe vehicles is presented,together with a general discussion on the pros and cons of the methodology.In the mean time,cautions in field implementation of the method are put forward.
Lost in the pocket: the current status of periodontal diagnosis

A number of "state of the art" diagnostic procedures based on data generated by technological advances in microbiology, immunology and molecular cell biology have been developed to assist the dentist in identifying patients at risk of acquiring periodontal disease or who are currently experiencing loss of periodontal attachment. This paper challenges the assumptions upon which these tests are based and presents an alternative hypothesis of the natural history of periodontal disease. This hypothesis considers the microflora of the oral cavity and the inflammatory response of the host to be part of an ecosystem which has evolved over many years of interaction and adaptation between unicellular and multicellular organisms. These interactions have resulted in the selection of biological strategies that provide intrinsic benefits to the host and to the microorganisms comprising the indigenous flora.
25 Current health-related quality of life in older adults with chronic ankle instability

Background Research regarding the current health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI) is limited; particularly in older adults. Individuals with CAI have reported decreased global and regional function; however, more research is required to determine the extent to which CAI influences HRQoL. Objective To determine whether HRQoL and region specific outcomes differ between older adults with and without CAI. Design Case-control study. Setting Laboratory. Participants Two hundred older individuals volunteered to participate in the study. All individuals completed the Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) to determine CAI status. There were 75 individuals classified as CAI (age = 51.5 ± 7.3 years, height = 175.8 ± 3.7 cm, body mass = 86.5 ± 18.9 kg) and 125 classified as no CAI (age = 53.2 ± 7.3 years, height = 176.2 ± 5.4 cm, body mass = 81.3 ± 17.6 kg). Assessment of risk factors The independent variable was CAI status. Individuals scoring ≥11 on the IdFAI were classified as having CAI, and those scoring Main outcome measurements All participants completed the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Lower Limb Questionnaire (AAOS) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36v2) on one occasion. Dependent variables were the scores on the AAOS, the eight dimensions of the SF-36v2 (vitality (VT), physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), general health (GH), physical role functioning (RF), emotional role functioning (RE), social role functioning (SF), and mental health (MH)), and two summary scores (physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components). A MANOVA was used to evaluate differences between the two groups on all dependent variables. A priori alpha was set a p Results Compared with the individuals without CAI, those with CAI reported decreased function on the AAOS, PF, BP, GH, RP, and PCS (p Conclusions Individuals with CAI reported decreased function and HRQoL compared with individuals without CAI. These findings suggest that HRQoL should be examined during the evaluation and rehabilitation process of individuals with CAI.
Reversible vascular isolation of carotid sinuses in conscious dogs

A surgical technique has been developed that permits reversible vascular isolation of both carotid sinuses in the conscious dog. Seven dogs so prepared were studied over periods of 4-12 wk. Repeatable stimulus-response curves relating arterial blood pressure to carotid sinus pressure were obtained for sinus pressures of 40-240 mmHg. Two studies gave evidence that the ability of the carotid baroreceptors to influence arterial pressure was not or was minimally affected by the surgical dissection. In 10 dogs one sinus was surgically prepared; 3 wk later the dogs were anesthetized and vagotomized. The steady-state stimulus-response curves for the chronically prepared sinuses showed no consistent differences from the curves for the opposite, acutely prepared sinuses. In 8 other dogs the hypertensive responses to bilateral carotid occlusion were compared before and after surgical preparation of both sinuses. The responses to carotid occlusion tended to be decreased after surgery but the differences were small a...
The Role of Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Management

The X-rays were discovered in 1895 and the therapeutic effects were soon recognized. The first therapeutic use was in the early 1896 in a patient with recurrent carcinoma of the breast. Despite the technical limitations of the early equipment, tumor shrinkage and at times complete elimination of the tumor were noticed. However, the full potential of radiation therapy could not be achieved in those early days because of the limited knowledge regarding fractionation, treatment techniques, and uncertainties in how to calculate the tissue dose so as to deliver safe and effective doses of radiation. Much has changed in 120 years. Linear accelerators, megavoltage beam, and fast computers have revolutionized therapeutic radiation. The technological advances allow the delivery of the therapy more efficiently and accurately. Implementation of computer tomography-based three-dimensional treatment planning, intensity-modulated radiation therapy planning, and image-guided therapy are all resulting in decreased morbidity. Radiation is a major component in the treatment of all stages of breast cancer from ductal carcinoma in situ to metastatic disease. The radiation decreases the risk of locoregional recurrence, improves survival, and is used to palliate symptoms. It is indicated as adjuvant therapy after lumpectomy where it replaces mastectomy or postmastectomy. If the axilla is clinically negative and the sentinel node biopsy demonstrates low disease burden, radiation can substitute further axillary surgery resulting in decreased morbidity. Consultation with a radiation oncologist is an essential part of the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer.
Further Experience with Cryoprecipitate Coagulum in Renal Calculus Surgery: A Review of 60 Cases

AbstractThe use of cryoprecipitate has rekindled interest in coagulum pyelolithotomy. Safety and efficacy seem well established. We herein update our experience with more than 60 cases and discuss the most commonly encountered questions regarding the technique.
Quality quandaries: Understanding aspects influencing different types of multiple response optimization

Optimizing with several responses can benefit from an objective approach of eliminating non-contenders, understanding trade-offs between competing responses, and then identifying a final choice that matches optimization priorities. To offer insights tha..
Island building in the South China Sea: detection of turbidity plumes and artificial islands using Landsat and MODIS data

The South China Sea is currently in a state of intense geopolitical conflict, with six countries claiming sovereignty over some or all of the area. Recently, several countries have carried out island building projects in the Spratly Islands, converting portions of coral reefs into artificial islands. Aerial photography and high resolution satellites can capture snapshots of this construction, but such data are lacking in temporal resolution and spatial scope. In contrast, lower resolution satellite sensors with regular repeat sampling allow for more rigorous assessment and monitoring of changes to the reefs and surrounding areas. Using Landsat-8 data at ≥15-m resolution, we estimated that over 15 km2 of submerged coral reef area was converted to artificial islands between June 2013 and December 2015, mostly by China. MODIS data at ≥250-m resolution were used to locate previously underreported island building activities, as well as to assess resulting in-water turbidity plumes. The combined spatial extent of observed turbidity plumes for island building activities at Mischief, Subi, and Fiery Cross Reefs was over 4,300 km2, although nearly 40% of this area was only affected once. Together, these activities represent widespread damage to coral ecosystems through physical burial as well as indirect turbidity effects.
Enhanced anti-tumor effect via combination of Triptolide with ionizing radiation

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4720 Aim: Pancreas cancer is among the most resistant cancer to any therapy. The lack of effective treatment results in a very low survival rate, with median survivals of only about 6 month. This study is to explore the enhancement of therapeutic effect on human pancreatic cancer via combination of triptolide (TPL) and ionizing radiation (IR). Methods: AsPC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells cultured in 96 well plates were treated in vitro with different concentrations (0, 6, 12, 25 nM) of TPL alone or TPL plus 4 Gy IR one day later. The positive control is gemcitabine, a first line drug against pancreatic cancer. On day 4, the cell proliferation in anchorage-dependent conditions was analyzed by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. In addition, AsPC-1 cells treated with TPL or TPL plus IR were analyzed for their clonogenic survival. Finally, the extent of apoptosis induced by the above treatments were analyzed by Annexin V-FITC / propidium iodide (PI) staining as well as other apoptotic indices. In vivo, the AsPC-1 tumor xenografts were treated with 0.2 mg/kg TPL or 10 Gy IR or 100 mg/kg gemcitabine along or TPL plus IR. The tumor size was measured with Vernier calipers twice a week and the tumors were excised and weighed at the end of the experiment. The alterations of VEGF upon different treatments were determined by ELISA. Results: In vitro , TPL exerted a great inhibitory effect on growth of AsPC-1 cells, which was much more potent than gemcitabine (ID50 25 nM vs. >200 nM). The combination of TPL with IR shifted the ID50 of TPL from 25 nM to 12.5 nM (anchorage dependant phase cells) and reduced clonogenic survival of AsPC-1 cells (exponential growth phase cells). Cells treated with TPL plus IR exhibited a greater apoptosis as evidenced by stronger Annexin V/PI staining ratio, higher levels of cleaved caspases and increased DNA fragmentation as compared with TPL or IR alone. In vivo , the tumor growth of AsPC-1 xenografts was much slower in the group treated with TPL plus IR compared to the TPL or IR or gemcitabine alone groups. Importantly, 2 of 5 mice had prolonged complete responses (14 days). The VEGF level of AsPC-1 cells was greatly reduced upon treatment with TPL plus IR. Conclusion: 1) TPL possesses a potent therapeutic effect on pancreatic cancer, which seems superior to a current first line drug, gemcitabine; 2) the combination of TPL with IR enhances the therapeutic effect both in vitro and in vivo ; and 3) the inhibitory effect of TPL plus IR on pancreatic cancer is associated with induction of apoptosis and reduction of VEGF.
Receivership Skills: The Television Experience

As consumers of information, people must develop skills of receiving information, i.e., of collecting, interpreting, testing, and applying what they receive. This is as true of consumers of televis...
Identification of Recurrence Sites Following Post-Prostatectomy Treatment for Prostate Cancer Using 11C-Choline Positron Emission Tomography and Multiparametric Pelvic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Purpose: We describe anatomical sites of recurrence in patients with prostate cancer who had biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy and who received radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy postoperatively. We performed 11C-choline positron emission tomography/computerized tomography and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging.Materials and Methods: After radiotherapy and/or androgen deprivation therapy patients who underwent radical prostatectomy were evaluated by 11C-choline positron emission tomography/computerized tomography and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to determine recurrence patterns and clinicopathological features. Recurrent sites were described as local only (seminal vesicle bed/prostate fossa, vesicourethral anastomosis and bladder neck) or distant metastatic disease. Features associated with the identification of any distant metastatic disease were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression.Results: A total of 550 patients were identified. Treatm...
Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Older Chevron Concentrically Braced Frames with Hollow and Concrete-Filled Braces

AbstractDetailed seismic provisions for concentrically braced frames have evolved continuously since 1988. Thus, vintage-era braced frames, especially those designed prior to 1988, may be prone to ...
Early PT for Acute Low Back Pain Is Cost-Effective, but Gain in Quality of Life Is Likely Too Small to Notice.

At $30,000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, early PT for acute low back pain in primary care is cost-effective by the usual criteria of $50,000 to $100,000 per QALY. However, the magnitude of improvement in quality of life is small and is probably not clinically meaningful.
Mammalian Auditory Hair Cell Bundle Stiffness Affects Frequency Tuning by Increasing Coupling along the Length of the Cochlea.

The stereociliary bundles of cochlear hair cells convert mechanical vibrations into the electrical signals required for auditory sensation. While the stiffness of the bundles strongly influences mechanotransduction, its influence on the vibratory response of the cochlear partition is unclear. To assess this, we measured cochlear vibrations in mutant mice with reduced bundle stiffness or with a tectorial membrane (TM) that is detached from the sensory epithelium. We found that reducing bundle stiffness decreased the high-frequency extent and sharpened the tuning of vibratory responses obtained postmortem. Detaching the TM further reduced the high-frequency extent of the vibrations but also lowered the partition's resonant frequency. Together, these results demonstrate that the bundle's stiffness and attachment to the TM contribute to passive longitudinal coupling in the cochlea. We conclude that the stereociliary bundles and TM interact to facilitate passive-wave propagation to more apical locations, possibly enhancing active-wave amplification in vivo.
The Motivations to Create

Economists have long debated the degree to which inventive and artistic activities were either the result of instinctual urges on the part of creators, or the responses of creators to potential pecuniary rewards. Copyright and patent laws are based on a view that rewards are an important factor. In this paper we attempt to provide an empirical analysis of this question by using a recent data set covering the book production industry. We find evidence that authors publish more new books when they earned higher payments for previously written books, although at high enough levels of payment their production of new works begins to decline, consistent with a backward bending supply function. We also find that few authors are in the backward bending region and that the overall effect of payments to authors is to increase their output. Our results are also consistent with the belief that instinctual elements may play a large role in the creation of books.
Recreational Food Service Management: A New Academic Challenge

The School of Hospitality Management at Florida International University recently offered a new course, recreational food service management, in an effort to address the specialized needs of that segment of the industry. The author discusses the size and scope of this area, its history and presentations, its specialized operational nature, its menu structure and style of service, and the unique management requirements for
Anaerobic Flora of the Female Genital Tract

Early investigators realized that knowledge of the endogenous flora of the lower genital tract was basic to an understanding of obstetric and gynecologic infectious diseases. They surmised that alterations of the normal flora state might produce local infections such as vaginitis, and later it became apparent that certain organisms in the flora could produce ascending infections involving the upper genital tract. Today the importance of the endogenous flora as a source of genital tract infections is widely recognized.
Developmental Origins of Disease: Emerging Prenatal Risk Factors and Future Disease Risk.

Many of the diseases and dysfunctions described in the paradigm of the developmental origins of health and disease have been studied in relation to prenatal nutrition or environmental toxicant exposures. Here, we selectively review the current research on four exposures—two nutritional and two environmental—that have recently emerged as prenatal risk factors for long-term health outcomes. Recent studies have provided strong evidence that prenatal exposure to (1) excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages, (2) unhealthy dietary patterns, (3) perfluoroalkyl substances, and (4) fine particulate matter may increase risk of adverse health outcomes, such as obesity, cardiometabolic dysfunction, and allergy/asthma. Emerging prenatal nutritional factors and environmental toxicants influence offspring long-term health. More work is needed to identify the role of paternal exposures and maternal exposures during the preconception period and to further elucidate causality through intervention studies. The ubiquity of these emerging nutritional and environmental exposures makes this area of inquiry of considerable public health importance.
Probing Changes in Lung Physiology in COPD Using CT, Perfusion MRI, and Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI

Rationale and Objectives Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is highly heterogeneous and not well understood. Hyperpolarized xenon-129 (Xe129) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides a unique way to assess important lung functions such as gas uptake. In this pilot study, we exploited multiple imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), gadolinium-enhanced perfusion MRI, and Xe129 MRI, to perform a detailed investigation of changes in lung morphology and functions in COPD. Utility and strengths of Xe129 MRI in assessing COPD were also evaluated against the other imaging modalities. Materials and Methods Four COPD patients and four age-matched normal subjects participated in this study. Lung tissue density measured by CT, perfusion measures from gadolinium-enhanced MRI, and ventilation and gas uptake measures from Xe129 MRI were calculated for individual lung lobes to assess regional changes in lung morphology and function, and to investigate correlations among the different imaging modalities. Results No significant differences were found for all measures among the five lobes in either the COPD or age-matched normal group. Strong correlations (R > 0.5 or 0.5 or 0.4 or Conclusion Xe129 MRI has high potential to uniquely identify multiple changes in lung physiology in COPD using a single breath-hold acquisition.
Use of opioids and analgesics among ED patients with dental and low back pain: A national perspective.

Abstract Objectives Emergency department (ED) visits for dental pain and low back pain (LBP) are common. Many such patients have severe pain and receive opioids. Increased opioid-related deaths has led to efforts to reduce opioid prescriptions. We compared recent trends in use of analgesics and opioids in the ED and at discharge among patients with dental or LBP. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) of patients with dental pain or LBP from 2010 to 2015. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses exploring the association between pain location and use of analgesics and opioids controlling for age, gender, and pain severity. Results There were an estimated 16 and 49 million patient visits for dental and LBP, respectively. Prescription of opioids at discharge decreased from 59% to 50% (p = 0.02) in dental and 46% to 39% in LBP patients (p = 0.09). Compared to patients with LBP, patients with dental pain were less likely to receive analgesics (OR 0.65, 95% CI, 0.57–0.74) or opioids (OR 0.51, 95% CI, 0.44–0.59) while in the ED. In contrast, dental pain patients were more likely to have analgesics (OR 1.32, 95% CI, 1.16–1.51) or opioids (OR 1.65, 95% CI, 1.47–1.85) prescribed at the time of ED discharge than patients with LBP. Conclusions Prescription of opioids decreased for ED dental patients. While less likely to receive analgesics and opioids in the ED, patients with dental pain were more likely to be prescribed analgesics and opioids at the time of ED discharge than those with LBP.
Radicalization Trajectories: An Evidence-Based Computational Approach to Dynamic Risk Assessment of “Homegrown” Jihadists

The research aimed to develop and test a new dynamic approach to preventive risk assessment of violent extremists. The well-known New York Police Department four-phase model was used as a starting ...
Controlling the locomotion of spherical robots or why BB-8 works

Author(s): Akella, P; O'Reilly, OM; Sreenath, K | Abstract: Spherical robots have a wide range of self-propulsion mechanisms. Of particular interest in this paper are propulsion systems where wheels are placed in contact with the inner surface of the spherical shell of the robot. Here, locomotion is achieved by a combination of the actions of the motors along with the rolling constraints at the point of contact of the shell with the ground surface. We ask and seek the answer to the following question using elementary arguments: What is the minimal number of actuations needed to completely prescribe the motion of the robot for the two distinct cases where it is rolling and sliding on a surface? We find that two points of actuation are all that is needed provided some simple geometric conditions are satisfied. Our analysis is then applied to the BB-8 robot to show how locomotion is achieved in this robot.
A MEMS-Scale Ultrasonic Power Receiver for Biomedical Implants

Bio-implantable medical devices need a reliable and stable source of power to perform effectively. Although batteries are typically the first candidate to power implantable devices, they have a limited lifetime and must be periodically replaced or recharged. To alleviate this issue, ultrasonic power transfer systems can wirelessly power bio-implantable devices. Diaphragm structures which use piezoelectric materials (also known as piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers) can be fabricated on a small scale suitable for implantable devices. Diaphragms can be fabricated by deposition of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films on a non-piezoelectric material. However, current deposition techniques cannot provide PZT thicknesses more than about 6 μm. We numerically investigate the performance of a square ultrasonic PZT receiver with inner and outer electrodes. Using COMSOL simulations, we optimize the piezoelectric film thickness for a 2 mm × 2 mm diaphragm with a silicon substrate of 50 μm and find the optimal thickness to be 20 μm for a maximum output power delivered to an optimal load. We fabricate a micromachined ultrasonic power-generating receiver capable of providing sufficient power for implantable medical devices using bulk PZT. We show that when a transmitter is generating an input power intensity of 322 mW/cm 2 at 88 kHz, less than Food and Drug Administration limit of 720 mW/cm 2 , the receiver delivers a power of 0.7 mW to an optimal resistive load of 4.3 kΩ when the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is 20 mm. Furthermore, the process developed can be used to fabricate devices that are significantly smaller than the one characterized, which enables further miniaturization of bio-implanted systems.
‘The Cradle of Tantra’: Modern Transformations of a Tantric Centre in Northeast India from Nationalist Symbol to Tourist Destination

This article examines the modern transformations of the temple of the goddess, Kāmākhyā, and her most important festival, Ambuvācī Melā, in Assam. Since at least the eighth century, Kāmākhyā has be...
On the preparation of substituted 4H-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[2,3-c]-1,2,4-triazin-4-ones and 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles

The reaction of benzoyl isothiocyanates and methoxycarbonyl isothiocyanate with 4-amino-4,5-dihydro-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5-ones in acetonitrile gave several substituted 4H-1,3,4-thiadiazolo[2,3-c]-1,2,4-triazin-4-ones VIa-h instead of the expected thioureas. In addition, benzoyl isothiocyanate reacted with 4-amino-3-(methylthio)-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole to give the benzoyl thiourea IX and with 4-amino-3-mercapto-5-(trifluoromethyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole to give the bicyclic compound N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazol-6-yl]benzamide IX.
Brief Report: A Pilot Online Pivotal Response Treatment Training Program for Parents of Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Despite advances in evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), disparities in service access remain a serious concern. Current treatment models may not be feasible for families who live in remote geographical regions or have limited resources. To address this, studies have begun to explore parent-implemented interventions via an online format. The current study examined a new online course designed to help parents implement Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) for their toddler with ASD. Parents submitted videos of parent-child interactions which were coded for fidelity of implementation (FOI) and social communicative behaviors. The data indicate that PRT fidelity and child behaviors significantly improved following course participation. This suggests that an online intervention may be a feasible approach to disseminating PRT strategies.
Turning the Glacier: Modernity and Complex Identity in the Novellas

Elizabeth Gaskell’s short stories and novels are suggestive in deciding when it is most appropriate to apply Judith Butler’s theory of performativity optimistically, but so many different factors separate the characters and tone of the two forms that it is difficult to isolate the most important aspect. Gaskell wrote in an intermediate form as well: first-person novellas set in a rural location, with a narrator who maintains a sense of detachment from the customs of the local people. The narrative format of these texts creates an ideal environment for certain characters to be able to recognize the discourses that compel their performances and to slip those bonds to some degree. The chapter examines Cranford, My Lady Ludlow, and Cousin Phillis.
Measure what you are trying to predict: Applying the correspondence principle to the Implicit Association Test

Abstract The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is nearly synonymous with the implicit attitude construct. At the same time, correlations between the IAT and criterion measures are often remarkably low. Developed within research using explicit measures of attitudes, the correspondence principle posits that measures should better predict criteria when there is a match in terms of the level of generality or specificity at which both are conceptualized (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1977). As such, weak implicit-criterion correlations are to be expected when broad general implicit measures are used to predict highly specific criteria. Research using explicit measures of attitudes consistently supports the correspondence principle, but conceptual correspondence is rarely considered by researchers using implicit measures to predict behavior and other relevant criterion measures. In five experiments (total N = 4650), we provide the first direct evidence demonstrating the relevance of the correspondence principle to the predictive validity of the IAT and Single-Target IAT. That said, it is not the case that the IAT always predicts criteria better when correspondence is high. Inconsistency across the pattern of results suggests there is much more that remains to be understood about the relevance of the correspondence principle to the implicit-criterion relationship. Taken together, however, our findings suggest that conceptual correspondence often increases (and never decreases) the magnitude of implicit-criterion and implicit-explicit relationships. We provide a framework for future research necessary to establish when correspondence is more likely to increase the predictive validity of measures such as the IAT.
Triple drugs co-delivered by a small gemcitabine-based carrier for pancreatic cancer immunochemotherapy.

Abstract Poor tumor penetration and highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are two major factors that limit the therapeutic efficacy for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). In this work, a redox-responsive gemcitabine (GEM)-conjugated polymer, PGEM, was employed as a tumor penetrating nanocarrier to co-load an immunomodulating agent (NLG919, an inhibitor of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and a chemotherapeutic drug (paclitaxel (PTX)) for immunochemo combination therapy. The NLG919/PTX co-loaded micelles showed very small size of ~15 nm. In vivo tumor imaging study indicated that PGEM was much more effective than the relatively large-sized POEG-co-PVD nanoparticles (~160 nm) in deep tumor penetration and could reach the core of the pancreatic tumor. PTX formulated in the PGEM carrier showed improved tumor inhibition effect compared with PGEM alone. Incorporation of NLG919 in the formulation led to a more immunoactive tumor microenvironment with significantly decreased percentage of Treg cells, and increased percentages of CD4+ IFNγ+ T and CD8+ IFNγ+ T cells. PGEM micelles co-loaded with PTX and NLG919 showed the best anti-tumor activity in pancreatic (PANC02) as well as two other tumor models compared to PGEM micelles loaded with PTX or NLG919 alone, suggesting that codelivery of NLG919 and PTX via PGEM may represent an effective strategy for immunochemotherapy of PDA as well as other types of cancers. Statement of Significance In order to effectively accumulate and penetrate the PDA that is poorly vascularized and enriched with dense fibrotic stroma, the size of nanomedicine has to be well controlled. Here, we reported an immunochemotherapy regimen based on co-delivery of GEM, PTX and IDO1 inhibitor NLG919 through an ultra-small sized GEM-based nanocarrier (PGEM). We demonstrated that the PGEM carrier was effective in accumulating and penetrating into PDA tumors. Besides, PGEM co-loaded with PTX and NLG9 induced an improved anti-tumor immune response and was highly efficacious in inhibiting tumor growth as well as in prolonging the survival rate in PANC02 xenograft model. Our work represents a potential strategy for enhancing PDA tumor penetration and immunochemotherapy.
Modeling interdependent effects of infrastructure failures using imprecise dependency information

Quantitative data relating to interdependencies in many infrastructure networks are inadequate or not easily available due to several reasons, such as security, business concerns, and a lower level...
[FR413] The structure and Composition of Gainesville's Urban Forest in 2016

Trees in cities were formerly thought of merely as a collection of individuals found along streets and incorporated into landscaping. However, urban trees are now viewed as being part of a unique forest type, and understanding the urban forest’s structure and composition is an important first step towards managing it. This 4-page fact sheet written by Michael G. Andreu, Caroline A. Hament, David A. Fox, and Robert J. Northrop and published by the UF/IFAS School of Forest Resources and Conservation aims to provide a broader understanding of the urban forest in the city of Gainesville, Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr413
River Plume Liftoff Dynamics and Surface Expressions

The water surface expression of liftoff and its dependence on discharge are examined using numerical simulations with the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). Liftoff is the process by which buoyant river water separates from the bed and flows over denser saltwater. During low-discharge conditions liftoff occurs in the river and is accompanied by a change in the surface slope. During high-discharge conditions liftoff occurs outside the mouth and generates a ridge on the water surface. The location and height of the ridge can be described by analytical equations in terms of discharge, shelf slope, and river mouth aspect ratio. The offshore distance and height of the ridge are proportional to the river discharge and vary inversely with river mouth aspect ratio. For steep shelf slopes liftoff occurs close to the river mouth and generates a large ridge. The ridge is modified, but not eliminated, by the presence of tides. The water surface slope change at the ridge peak is large enough to be detected by the upcoming Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) altimeter and can be used to identify the liftoff location during high discharge. However, during low discharge the water surface slope change at the liftoff location is too small to be detected by SWOT. These results indicate that remote measurements of the presence or absence of the ridge may be useful to distinguish between low and high flows, and remote measurements of the ridge location or height could be used to estimate freshwater discharge.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of advanced radiotherapy techniques for post-mastectomy breast cancer patients

Prior cost-effectiveness studies of post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) only compared conventional radiotherapy versus no radiotherapy and only considered tumor control. The goal of this study was to perform cost-effectiveness analyses of standard of care (SOC) and advanced PMRT techniques including intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), standard volumetric modulated arc therapy (STD-VMAT), non-coplanar VMAT (NC-VMAT), multiple arc VMAT (MA-VMAT), Tomotherapy (TOMO), mixed beam therapy (MIXED), and intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Using a Markov model, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of various techniques over 15 years. A cohort of women (55-year-old) was simulated in the model, and radiogenic side effects were considered. Transition probabilities, utilities, and costs for each health state were obtained from literature and Medicare data. Model outcomes include quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). For the patient cohort, STD-VMAT has an ICER of $32,617/QALY relative to SOC; TOMO is dominated by STD-VMAT; IMRT has an ICER of $19,081/QALY relative to STD-VMAT; NC-VMAT, MA-VMAT, MIXED are dominated by IMRT; IMPT has an ICER of $151,741/QALY relative to IMRT. One-way analysis shows that the probability of cardiac toxicity has the most significant impact on the model outcomes. The probability sensitivity analyses show that all advanced PMRT techniques are more cost-effective than SOC at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $100,000/QALY, while almost none of the advanced techniques is more cost-effective than SOC at a WTP threshold of $50,000/QALY. Advanced PMRT techniques are more cost-effective for breast cancer patients at a WTP threshold of $100,000/QALY, and IMRT might be a cost-effective option for PMRT patients.
Steplike metamagnetic transitions in a honeycomb lattice antiferromagnet Tb 2 Ir 3 Ga 9

Single crystals of a honeycomb lattice antiferromagnet, ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{2}{\mathrm{Ir}}_{3}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{9}$, were synthesized, and the physical properties have been studied. From magnetometry, a long-range antiferromagnetic ordering at $\ensuremath{\approx}12.5$ K with highly anisotropic magnetic behavior was found. Neutron powder diffraction confirms that the Tb spins lie along the $\mathbf{a}$-axis, parallel to the shortest Tb-Tb contact. Two field-induced spin-flip transitions are observed when the field is applied parallel to this axis, separated by a plateau corresponding roughly to $M\ensuremath{\approx}{M}_{\mathrm{s}}/2$. Transport measurements show the resistivity to be metallic with a discontinuity at the onset of N\'eel order. Heat capacity shows a $\ensuremath{\lambda}$-like transition confirming the bulk nature of the magnetism. We propose a phenomenological spin Hamiltonian that describes the magnetization plateau as a result of strong Ising character arising from a quasidoublet ground state of the ${\mathrm{Tb}}^{3+}$ ion in a site of ${C}_{s}$ symmetry and expressing a significant bond-dependent anisotropy.