cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Teaching NeuroImages: Remote cerebellar hemorrhage following resection of a supratentorial tumor

A 23-year-old man was admitted with blurred vision and headache. Ten years ago he was diagnosed with a left temporal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma; his last resection was 6 years ago. Current CT and MRI showed left temporal encephalomalacia; MRI also revealed incidental bilateral remote cerebellar hemorrhages (RCH) (figure). Called “remote” due to their distance from the surgical site, RCH are rare complications of supratentorial and spinal operations.1 Depending on extent, RCH may be symptomatic and diagnosed acutely on CT, or incidentally discovered as …
National Outcomes after Open Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms with Visceral or Renal Bypass

Background We evaluated national outcomes after open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) with visceral or renal bypass (VRB). Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample database from 1993 through 2006, AAA repairs were identified by ICD9 codes for diagnosis of intact AAA combined with a procedure of open AAA repair. VRB patients also had an aortorenal and/or mesenteric bypass or mesenteric endarterectomy. Dissections as well as thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms were excluded. Demographics and comorbidities were noted. Mortality and complications were compared to infrarenal AAA (IRA) repairs without VRB. Predictors of perioperative mortality were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 41,166 VRB and 362,808 IRA repairs were identified. VRB repair volume decreased by 58% and IRA volume decreased by 59% from 1993 to 2006. VRB patients had higher mortality (5.8% vs. 4.4%, p Conclusion VRB repair volume decreased per year similarly to open IRA repair volume and may be related to increasing use of endovascular therapy. Mortality after VRB is high and dependent upon age, renal failure, and congestive heart failure. Overall, VRB repair was associated with worsened outcomes; however, this study cannot conclude that avoiding such a repair will improve outcomes. This should be factored into surgical decision making for these patients.
Prognostic utility of serum potassium in chronic digoxin toxicity: a case-control study.

Objective In contrast to patients with acute digoxin overdose, the prognostic utility of the serum potassium concentration for patients with chronic digoxin toxicity is unclear. In such patients, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between pre-treatment serum potassium and survival.
Chemical Weathering of Minerals in Soils

Publisher Summary As agriculture is intensified in particular areas, the proportion of nutrients supplied by weathering becomes relatively small, compared to that added as fertilizers. Even in areas of well-developed agriculture, both in temperate and tropical regions, the weathering release of nutrient elements is of major importance in soil fertility and crop production. It is found that the inherent fertility of soils is related to their mineral content. As the weathering stage advances, soils gradually change, first toward increased productivity and finally, to extremely low productivity. The release of the major and minor elements can be correlated with mineral composition of the soil. In backward areas, agriculture has been directed toward maximum use of the native mineral source of nutrients by systems such as patch agriculture and paddy culture. Even in areas of intensive agriculture, it is clear that the addition of ground rocks (such as ground limestone) and minerals to soils is a reversal of the weathering scheme, with extremely beneficial effects on crop productivity. The chapter examines the processes and products of chemical weathering of minerals in soils from the standpoint of each of these phases and highlights the relative stability of minerals; weathering sequences and indexes. The chapter also lists out the factors affecting the reaction rates of chemical weathering and their distribution frequency.
Introduction: The Context of the Theory and Practice of China’s Language Policy

We have devoted the previous pages to illustrate our point that the theory and practice of China’s language policy in the past half-century must be viewed in the context of changing perceptions of tradition, modernization, state-building, and nation-building. We can conclude that China’s tradition, modernization, and state-building all tend to empower one single standard language politically, legally, socioeconomically, and even aesthetically. China’s early multi-nation-building efforts enthusiastically supported the maintenance and development of minority languages, whereas its recent mono-nation-building drive has significantly decreased such support, if not withholding it, and adopted a (social) Darwinist attitude - allowing nature to run its own course because there are too many languages in China as Jiang Zemin, the CCP’s past general secretary, suggests (Tiemuer & Liu, 2002, p. 57). Coupled with globalization and the forces of market economy, China’s modernization drive appears to favor only two dominant languages, Chinese as the national commonly-used language and English as the world language (cf. Ross, 1993; Spolsky & Shohamy, 1999, pp. 156–186).
Fighting for the 'Right to Try' Unapproved Drugs: Law as Persuasion

Over the last several months, five states have passed “Right to Try” laws, which are designed to allow terminally ill patients to obtain experimental drugs. Though these laws appear to bypass FDA procedures, states do not have the legal power to achieve this goal. Instead, I suggest that "Right to Try" laws do not themselves meaningfully alter substantive law but instead serve a different function. By advocating for these reforms, the movement’s leaders are seeking to persuade policy makers at other levels of government. "The Right to Try" saga therefore demonstrates an important feature of American federalism: even when federal law ensures that states lack legal power to alter substantive law meaningfully, state actors can still use their legislative processes to promote their desired policies and constitutional interpretations at the federal level.
War Baby/Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art. Edited by Laura Kina and Wei Ming Dariotis

(2014). War Baby/Love Child: Mixed Race Asian American Art. Edited by Laura Kina and Wei Ming Dariotis. Amerasia Journal: Vol. 40, Asian American Religions in a Globalized World, pp. 107-110.
The Variation of the Hard Component of Cosmic Rays With Height and the Disintegration of Mesotrons

The vertical intensity of the hard component of cosmic rays was measured at different altitudes with a threefold coincidence counter tube arrangement. Measurements were taken with and without a graphite layer above the counters in order to compare the absorption of the hard component in air and in carbon. The counting rate observed under a given mass of air-plus-carbon was found to be considerably larger than the rate observed under the same mass of air alone. We interpret the difference as due to the spontaneous decay of the mesotrons which form the hard component of cosmic rays.
Predicting Dealer Success

Using a simple method of forecasting from early performance, the future success of a distributorship can be quite accurately predicted.This procedure eliminates the long and costly process of repla...
The effect of propoxur and fenthion applied in passenger trains for bedbug control

Objective To observe the long-term effects of propoxur and fenthion on bedbug control in passenger trains.Methods Field test.Results The killing rate of singly-periodic chemical technique was 92.2%,and that of double-period chemical technique was 100%.The effects of double-period chemical technique could last for 4months.Conclusion Double-period chemical technique displays good control effect in the long-term.
Radiographic and CT Assessment of Reduction of Calcaneus Fractures Using a Limited Sinus Tarsi Incision

Background:The lateral extensile incision for fixation of displaced intra-articular calcaneus fractures allows for fracture reduction but has been associated with high rates of soft tissue complica...
Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding. A guide to initial management

Initial assessment of any patient with acute gastrointestinal bleeding includes thorough history taking and physical examination, with special attention to orthostatic changes in vital signs as a guide to severity of blood loss. The next crucial step is exclusion of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Once that is accomplished, a lower gastrointestinal source should be sought. Diagnostic options include bleeding scans, colonoscopy, and angiography. The latter two measures confer therapeutic advantages, especially for diverticular disease and angiodysplastic lesions, which are the most common causes of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding.
Comparing Automated vs Manual Leukocyte Differential Counts for Quantifying the 'Left Shift' in the Blood of Neonates

The neutrophil ‘left shift’ can be measured via the immature to total (I/T) neutrophil ratio or the absolute bands per μl using a manual differential count. It can also be measured from an automated differential count by the immature granulocyte percentage (IG%) or the absolute IG per μl. In neonates, it is unknown if the manual or automated differential count is superior. We directly compared complete blood counts (CBCs) with manual and automated differential counts from infants <90 days old, and documented whether or not each neonate was infected. We developed reference intervals for I/T ratio, bands per μl, IG% and IG per μl using values from non-infected neonates. The database had 10 714 CBCs. The upper reference interval for I/T ratio was 0.29 in the first 48 h and 0.31 thereafter; bands per μl was 3710 μl−1 in the first 48 h and 1785 μl−1 thereafter. IG% was 6.2% then 4.2%; IG per μl was 1460 μl−1 then 613 μl−1. Statistical performances of the four methods were equivalent for identifying infection. We developed reference intervals for four methods of quantifying a neonate’s ‘left shift’. The information from automated differentials is not inferior to that from manual differentials in identifying infections, but automated differentials have the advantages of a larger sample size, being less expensive, and faster performance times.
Rural—Urban Migration, Unemployment and Job Probabilities: Recent Theoretical and Empirical Research

Until recently, research on rural—urban migration in less developed countries has been largely dominated by the work of geographers, demographers and sociologists. For the most part, economists have preferred to ignore migration while operating within the confines of their traditional ‘two-sector’ models. In the case of a ‘closed’ economy these sectors usually consisted of the agricultural and the industrial with the implicit understanding that one could substitute ‘rural’ for ‘agricultural’ and ‘urban’ for ‘industrial’. Emphasis has been placed on traditional economic variables such as output growth rates, terms of trade, savings and investment, and relative efficiency. The efficient allocation of human resources between sectors, if discussed at all, has been assumed to be a natural out-growth of a self-adjusting mechanism which functioned to equate sectoral marginal productivities. Rural—urban migration was portrayed as a manifestation of this self-adjusting mechanism (with its implicit full-employment assumptions) and, as such, was not deemed to be of sufficient intrinsic importance to warrant detailed theoretical and empirical investigation.
Immunologic Mechanisms of Vasculitis

The kidneys are among the organs most commonly affected by systemic vasculitis. This chapter reviews the etiology and pathogenesis of forms of vasculitis that most often affect the kidneys. The emphasis is on vasculitis that targets predominantly small vessels because this category of vasculitis most often involves the kidneys. A broad spectrum of cellular and humoral inflammatory mediator systems are involved in the pathophysiology of vasculitis. The two most common pathways to renal vasculitis are immunoglobulin-rich immune complex–mediated vasculitis and immunoglobulin-poor pauci-immune antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)–mediated vasculitis. Immune complexes in vessel walls cause inflammation by activating humoral and cellular inflammatory mediator systems in the blood, including the complement, kinin, and coagulation systems. ANCA cause vasculitis by activating cytokine-primed neutrophils by both Fc and Fab’2 binding, resulting in the release of destructive oxygen radicals and lytic enzymes that injure tissue. This inflammation is amplified by activation of the alternative complement system with generation of C5a, which is a pivotal factor in mediating intense necrotizing inflammation.
Hospitalizations for Acute Myocardial Infarction Are Decreased Among Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using a Nationwide Inpatient Database.

BACKGROUND Questions remain regarding the true prevalence of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (MI) among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), we aimed to compare the proportion of hospitalizations for acute MI among patients with IBD with that of the general population. METHODS This study used data from years 2000 to 2011 in Nationwide Inpatient Sample, the largest publicly available all-payer inpatient database in the United States. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification discharge codes were used to identify adult patients with discharge diagnoses of IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease), acute MI, and multiple comorbid risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The independent effect of a diagnosis of IBD on risk of acute MI was examined using a multivariable logistic regression model controlling for multiple confounders. Data were analyzed using SAS survey procedures and weighted to reflect national estimates. RESULTS We identified 567,438 hospitalizations among patients with IBD and 78,121,000 hospitalizations among the general population. Patients with IBD were less likely to be hospitalized for acute MI than patients in the general population (1.3% versus 3.1%, P < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, the odds of hospitalization for acute MI among patients with IBD were decreased when compared with the general population (odds ratio, 0.51; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.52). CONCLUSIONS Despite prior reports of a potentially increased risk of acute MI among patients with IBD, in a nationwide inpatient database, lower rates of acute MI were demonstrated in the IBD population when compared with the general population.
Triple threat in pregnancy.

A woman aged 22 years with a history of lupus presented in the 18th week of pregnancy with hypertensive emergency and flash pulmonary oedema. Bedside echocardiogram revealed severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with an ejection fraction (EF) of 25% and pericardial effusion. Laboratories revealed hypocomplementemia, proteinuria, elevated C reactive protein and anti-DS-DNA, raising concern for a lupus flare. Cardiac MRI showed an acute intramyocardial oedematous process, consistent with lupus carditis, and further worsening of LVEF to 13%. Shared-decision-making with the patient included discussion of maternal risks of continuation of pregnancy in the setting of worsening heart function and the fetal risks of definitive treatment with cyclophosphamide for a lupus flare and the patient decided to proceed with medical termination of pregnancy. Treatment with immunosuppressants, including cyclophosphamide, and steroids, was then initiated. 2 months after discharge, cardiac MRI showed marked improvement in LVEF to 50% and the patient remains clinically free of heart failure.
Screening Tools for Geriatric Assessment by Specialists

This chapter provides practical guidance for any clinician looking for information concerning tools that are of value in assessing an older patient.
90Y Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin®; 90YZ) Doses Calculated To Deliver up to 1500 cGy to Critical Organs May Be Safely Combined with High-Dose BEAM and Autotransplant in NHL.

44 patients with relapsed or refractory CD20+ NHL were enrolled on a phase I trial of dose-escalated 90 YZ followed by high-dose BEAM and autotransplant in which the 90 YZ dose was patient-specific based on dosimetry. 90 YZ doses were calculated to deliver cohort-defined radiation doses (100–1700 cGy) to critical organs (liver, lung or kidney) with 3–6 patients per cohort. On D-22, rituximab (R) 250 mg/m 2 was infused followed by 111 In Zevalin®. Imaging was performed immediately and at 4, 24, 72 and 144 hours; dosimetry was performed on D-15. On D-14, R was followed immediately by 90 YZ at the cohort-prescribed dose. On D-6 through D-1, patients received high-dose BEAM. On D0, a minimum of 2.0 × 10 6 CD 34+ cells/kg was infused and G-CSF 5 μg/kg SQ daily begun. The median age was 54 (range: 25–73) years. NHL histologic subtypes were as follows: 16% mantle cell, 57% diffuse aggressive, 11% low-grade and 16% transformed. 43% had recieved 3 or more chemotherapy regimens, and 70% had received R either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. The toxicity profile was similar to that associated with high-dose BEAM. The most common grade III/IV toxicities were infection, fever, stomatitis, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. One patient experienced transient veno-occlusive disease at the 700 cGy dose level. Two dose-limiting toxicities occurred at the 1700 cGy dose level: one patient with grade 4 stomatitis died of pneumonia and sepsis on D+10, and one patient experienced septic emboli to the lung on D+13. Engraftment occurred at a median of 10 days (range: 8–18 ) to granulocytes ≥ 500/μL, and 21 days (range: 11–40 days) to platelets ≥20,000/μL. One heavily pretreated patient developed MDS on D+291 and expired of sepsis on D+483. With a median follow-up of 21 months, the three year overall and progression-free survivals are 52% and 37%, respectively. For dosimetry-based trials, 1500 cGy to the critical organ (nearly always liver) is the recommended dose. Although patient-specific doses calculated to deliver a cohort-prescribed absorbed radiation dose to the critical organ were highly variable, the two dose-limiting toxicities ocurred at nearly identical doses (1.14, 1.20 mCi/kg) when calculated according to weight. Whereas eight other patients safely received at least twice the conventional 0.4 mCi/kg dose, 0.8 mCi/kg is the recommended dose for phase II studies, if dosing is to be based on weight and not dosimetry. Outcomes are encouraging given the high-risk patient population. A phase III trial will be required to establish whether or not the addition of 90 YZ to high-dose BEAM improves outcomes in NHL patients undergoing autotransplant.
Collider Dipole Magnet Producibility

Current baseline designs for SCC dipole magnets are reviewed and analyzed to determine the extent to which the designs are producible. Key elements of a producible CDM design involve simplicity, standardization, and the integration of design for manufacturability. Simplicity entails minimizing piece parts, combining components, providing self-locking features, and usage of unidirectional assembly. Standardization entails using common size fasteners, providing for modularity, using existing “off the shelf” hardware, and making designs identical when they are similar. Design for manufacturability entails designing for assembly, designing around known manufacturing capabilities and capacities, providing for assembly access, designing for multiple sourcing, designing for automation and providing as generous tolerance control as possible consistent with the statistical distribution for the manufacturing and assembly processes involved. We will present a summary of our plans for enhancing the producibility of the CDM design.
Abstract 1298: The effect of adipocyte-derived factors on lung cells: Exploring the protective nature of excess weight on lung cancer risk

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in men and in women (not including skin cancer) and the most common cause of cancer mortality. According to several epidemiologic papers, excess weight, identified as the BMI categories of overweight and obese, lowers lung cancer risk. Despite the numerous studies describing this anomaly, the underlying mechanisms for the protective effects are still unknown. Adipose tissue is known to secrete inflammatory molecules such as IL6, IL1β, and IL12. Activated IL6- and IL1β-associated inflammatory pathways are known to promote tumorigenesis, while the activated IL12-associated pathway inhibits tumorigenesis. We hypothesize that adipocytes create an environment that prevents lung carcinogenesis through activating inflammatory pathways that inhibit tumor growth and through blocking inflammatory pathways that promote tumor growth. To study the effect of adipocyte-derived factors on lung cells, alveolar fibroblasts (MRC5) and lung carcinoma (A549) cells were cultured in standard medium and in a 50:50 standard: adipocyte-conditioned medium (CM). In addition, cells were treated with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a known lung carcinogen. After 48 hours, mRNA expression levels of inflammatory genes were determined by RT-PCR. The data demonstrate that B[a]P treatment induced expression of IL1β, IL6 and IL12 in both cell lines. CM treatment decreased expression of IL1β and IL6 in MRC5 cells and increased their expression in A549 cells. In contrast, CM treatment decreased expression of IL12 in both cells lines. Cells treated with B[a]P plus CM had increased expression of IL12 in both cell lines, and reduced expression of IL1β and IL6 in MRC5 (2.3-fold and 6.5-fold, respectively) and A549 cells (40-fold and 11.5-fold, respectively) over B[a]P-treated cells. It was demonstrated that combined treatment increased NFκB (a transcription factor for IL1β, IL6 and IL12) mRNA expression 4-fold over control. The data suggest that conditioned medium inhibits B[a]P-induced and NFκB-mediated expression of IL1β and IL6 but increases NFκB-mediated expression IL12. This suggests that excreted factors from an adipocyte-rich environment may lead to the activation of growth-prohibiting inflammatory pathways, as opposed to growth-promoting pathways. Understanding these mechanisms and the possible discovery of biomarkers can be the foundation for new preventive techniques and treatments for lung cancer. Citation Format: Rosalind B. Penney, Daniel Sappington, Eric Siegel, Gunnar Boysen, Susan Kadlubar. The effect of adipocyte-derived factors on lung cells: Exploring the protective nature of excess weight on lung cancer risk. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1298. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1298
Analysis of intensity dependent near-bandedge absorption in semi-insulating 4H–SiC for photoconductive switch applications

We report on the intensity-dependent behavior of the absorption coefficient (α) in semi-insulating 4H–SiC material. Data from as-received samples show a monotonic decrease in α with incident energy density, with a pronounced change in slope at around 10 mJ cm−2. Annealed samples, on the other hand, exhibit an experimental trend of increasing α with intensity. Qualitative explanation of the observed behavior is presented that probes the possible role of spontaneous and stimulated emission for as-received samples. With annealing, trap related recombination is strongly reduced leading to higher carrier densities and increased free-carrier absorption with incident intensity. The role of band-filling and permittivity changes are shown to be inconsequential, while changes in internal fields could contribute to decreases in absorption.
Strengthening the Conversation in Blended and Face-to Face Courses: Connecting Online and In-Person Learning with Crossover Protocols

ABSTRACTThere is currently strong and widespread support among university administrators for blended learning at the college level, or courses that incorporate some degree of online instruction. As instructors are called on to incorporate online and face-to-face elements into their instruction, they face the critical question of how to intentionally connect the two modalities in ways that strengthen learning. This article first outlines the historical context of social-constructivism's presence in online instruction, and then presents a rationale for the use of “crossover” discussion protocols that connect online forums and face-to-face discussions. The article argues that by drawing deliberately on the benefits of both online and in-person learning environments, crossover protocols help students make more insightful connections among ideas and push their own—and each others'—thinking in unexpected ways. A set of crossover protocols is then provided, along with considerations for implementing them effecti...
The Continual Pursuit of Love

In this final chapter, Will learns that only love can navigate him safely through Need’s demands. The wisdom and/or folly of the lessons imparted reveal a newly integrated understanding of what constitutes love. The import of Will’s cognitive search lies not so much in defining the intellect’s or charity’s bounds, but in the movement between them. While the natural tendency of reason is to divide and distinguish, Will must prioritize his ability to enact that knowledge founded upon love. Kynde’s pronouncement that Will should learn to love emphasizes the fact that charity perfects the human mode of cognition. As the foundation of Christian faith, charity transforms secular crafts and vocations into spiritually worthy pursuits. His journey both affirms the constructive capabilities of the intellect and yet denies the intellect’s ability to grasp divine truths absolutely and to attain final stability. As the dynamic interaction between the intellect and the will is continually moving, it both explains and validates the inconclusive ending of Will’s search for truth.
Segmentation of Features in Electron Tomographic Reconstructions

Electron tomography is the most widely applicable method for obtaining three-dimensional information from biological samples by electron microscopy. However, owing to the complexity and low signal-to-noise ratio of the reconstructions, direct interpretation of their three-dimensional content is not straight forward. This chapter describes computational approaches designed to extract the most accurate information possible from biological electron tomograms.
The Communication Gap Between the Medical System and Community Resources for Dementia-Related Behavioral Symptom Management: Family Caregiver Perspectives.

Objective To examine family caregiver perspectives on cooperative communication surrounding pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic resources for the treatment of dementia-related behavioral symptoms. Methods Personal narrative interviews were conducted by the primary investigator with 13 family caregivers from October 2014 to April 2015. The recorded interviews were then transcribed and coded. Models detailing the caregivers' resource utilization in regard to behavioral symptom management were produced for each participant and then summarized on the basis of recurring themes. Results There is a significant gap in the coordination and communication between physician services and caregiver community resources to aid in the behavioral management of family members with dementia. Physicians tend to rely on pharmacologic management independent of community resources and did not seem to be integrated or involved with recommendations from community resources. Conclusions Better integration of caregiver resources is necessary to help caregivers in the management of dementia-related behavioral symptoms.
Strategies to decrease oxidative stress biomarker levels in human medical conditions: A meta-analysis on 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α.

Abstract The widespread detection of elevated oxidative stress levels in many medical conditions has led to numerous efforts to design interventions to reduce its effects. Efforts have been wide-ranging, from dietary changes to administration of antioxidants, supplements, e.g., omega-3-fatty acids, and many medications. However, there is still no systemic assessment of the efficacy of treatments for oxidative stress reduction across a variety of medical conditions. The goal of this meta-analysis is, by combining multiple studies, to quantitate the change in the levels of the popular oxidative stress biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) after a variety of treatment strategies in human populations. Nearly 350 unique publications with 180 distinct strategies were included in the analysis. For each strategy, the difference between pre- or placebo and post-treatment levels calculated using Hedges’ g value of effect. In general, administration of antibiotics, antihyperlipidemic agents, or changes in lifestyle (g = − 0.63, − 0.54, and 0.56) had the largest effect. Administration of supplements, antioxidants, or changes in diet (g = − 0.09, − 0.28, − 0.12) had small quantitative effects. To fully interpret the effectiveness of these treatments, comparisons to the increase in g value for each medical condition is required. For example, antioxidants in populations with coronary artery disease (CAD) reduce the 8-iso-PGF2α levels by g = − 0.34 ± 0.1, which is quantitatively considered a small effect. However, CAD populations, in comparison to healthy populations, have an increase in 8-iso-PGF2α levels by g = 0.38 ± 0.04; therefore, the overall reduction of 8-iso-PGF2α levels is ≈ 90% by this treatment in this specific medical condition. In conclusion, 8-iso-PGF2α levels can be reduced not only by antioxidants but by many other strategies. Not all strategies are equally effective at reducing 8-iso-PGF2α levels. In addition, the effectiveness of any strategy can be assessed only in relation to the medical condition investigated.
Micro Essay Researching Foreign Law in a Bunch of Common Law Jurisdictions Just Got WAY Easier

JustisOne is an expertly designed, easy to use database with never-before-seen navigation tools that make researching foreign law fun. It houses cases from numerous common law jurisdictions such as the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, 18 Caribbean jurisdictions, and Singapore. Their developers created a unique legal taxonomy with more than 1.5 million terms to categorize every case across all of the included jurisdictions. Moreover, JustisOne provides an index of cases and legislation on more than 120 other services so that users can seamlessly link to relevant documents on other services.
Lipid Corona Formation from Nanoparticle Interactions with Bilayers

Summary Although mixing nanoparticles with certain biological molecules can result in coronas that afford some control over how engineered nanomaterials interact with living systems, corona formation mechanisms remain enigmatic. Here, we report results from experiments and computer simulations that provide concrete lines of evidence for spontaneous lipid corona formation without active mixing upon attachment to stationary and suspended lipid bilayer membranes. Experiments show that polycation-wrapped particles disrupt the tails of zwitterionic lipids, increase bilayer fluidity, and leave the membrane with reduced ζ potentials. Computer simulations suggest that the contact ion pairing between the lipid head groups and the polycations' ammonium groups leads to the formation of stable, albeit fragmented, lipid bilayer coronas. The mechanistic insight regarding lipid corona formation can be used to improve control over nano-bio interactions and to help understand why some nanomaterial-ligand combinations are detrimental to organisms but others are not.
Evaluating the Ally Role: Contributions, Limitations, and the Activist Position in Counseling and Psychology

Community action is a core mission of activism in counseling and psychology, and the ally role is often viewed as integral to this work. This article provides a review of the benefits as well as the limitations of the ally role in social action in counseling and psychology. Lastly, the authors advocate for a values-based activism role as an alternative to the ally position in order to enhance effectiveness in achieving social change in counseling and psychology.
Playable Case Studies: A New Educational Genre for Technical Writing Instruction

A Playable Case Study (PCS) is a hybrid learning experience where students (1) participate in a fictional narrative that unfolds through an immersive, simulated environment and (2) engage in classr...
Commentary on Scaling-up Evidence-based Interventions in US Public Systems to Prevent Behavioral Health Problems

As evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to prevent mental, emotional, and behavioral health problems continue to become available, approaches for implementation in systems and settings, at scale, are needed. The article, Scaling-up Evidence-based Interventions in U.S. Public Systems to Prevent Behavioral Health Problems: Challenges and Opportunities (Fagan et al. 2019) examines five large, complex public systems (behavioral health, child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and public health) that have adopted and implemented EBIs in various ways and presents common factors that support scale-up in these systems. This commentary builds on the authors’ strategic approach to offer a few additional considerations—issues of sustainability, ways of thinking about knowledge creation, and use of systems science/modeling approaches—to address scale-up in public systems. Moreover, the focus on public systems provides an opportunity to consider how the implementation and sustainment of EBIs might more directly address social determinants of health that are relevant across policy areas and public systems.
Metaphor and what is meant: Metaphorical content, what is said, and contextualism

Abstract Traditional pragmatic accounts of metaphor typically classify the metaphorical content (e.g., “Bill is a bulldozer”) as ‘what is implicated’ (alongside Gricean conversational implicatures), as opposed to ‘what is said’. A more contemporary view held by a number of theorists maintains that classifying metaphor as what is implicated is mistaken, and over-simplistic. Instead, they classify metaphorical content as something a speaker says. They offer a number of compelling arguments in favour of this classification. I identify and challenge four recent arguments against the traditional, broadly Gricean classification. Following Grice (1975), Searle (1993), Martinich (1984), and Camp (2006), I believe there is good reason to treat metaphor as what a speaker means, but does not say. I qualify my view by briefly sketching how it departs from the classical Gricean view.
Oropharyngeal Dysphagia in the Elderly: Evaluation and Prevalence

Several age-related sensory and motor changes impact swallow function in the elderly. Dysphagia is a common and growing concern as the geriatric population expands and is associated with emotional, physical, and financial consequences. However, it is underdiagnosed and undertreated, especially in community-dwelling independent older adults who do not report issues with swallowing. Otherwise healthy older adults may have senescent swallowing that remains functional until it is disrupted by triggers and becomes dysphagia. Evaluating for dysphagia in the elderly is important, because it is frequently missed until complications requiring hospitalization develop. The evaluation of dysphagia in the independently living elderly relies on screening tests, clinical swallowing evaluations, and instrumental exams. However, limitations exist with the current data, including the lack of consistent swallowing evaluation tools used during screening. Dysphagia is a significant problem in the elderly, leading to increased morbidity and cost of care. Further research is necessary to define the prevalence and impact of dysphagia in this population.
First-principles studies of radiative and nonradiative recombination in halide perovskites (Conference Presentation)

Understanding recombination mechanisms in halide perovskites is of key importance to their applications in photovoltaics and light emission. We perform first-principles calculations to compute the radiative and nonradiative recombination coefficients in the methylammonium lead iodide as well as in other halide perovskites. The computed radiative recombination coefficient is as high as in typical direct-gap semiconductors used in optoelectronics. However, our first-principles calculations of nonradiative rates show that strong Auger recombination will suppress efficiency of light emitters. I will also discuss defect-assisted recombination, a problem closely coupled to the issue of degradation. Work performed in collaboration with Xie Zhang, Jimmy-Xuan Shen, and Wennie Wang, and supported by DOE.
Content driving exposure and attention to tweets during local, high-impact weather events

The use of Twitter to disseminate weather information presents need for the analysis of what types of messages, and specifically warning messages, incur exposure and attention. Having this knowledge could increase exposure and attention to messages and perhaps increase retransmission through Twitter. Two models describe the cognitive processing of tweets and warnings. The extended parallel process model describes components of an effective warning message. Even in a tweet, ignoring one or both critical components of a warning—threat and efficacy—could inhibit a user from taking the correct protective action. The protective action decision model (PADM) describes risk perception and factors that enable or disable one from giving attention to a message. The PADM also helps to define impressions, retweets or likes as metrics of exposure or attention to a tweet. Tweets from three Twitter accounts within one television market during two high-impact weather events were examined. From an individual account, impressions, retweets and likes were collected to identify commonalities to tweets with much exposure and attention. Results indicate photographs and geographically specific messages were popular. Second, from two competing television weather accounts, warning tweet formats were compared to identify exposure and attention to each. Warning tweets providing threat and efficacy performed best. The purpose of this work is twofold. First is to identify local trends to compliment findings from studies with large sample sizes. Second is to apply existing theory on warning message content to Twitter. This approach should benefit communication strategies of key information nodes—local meteorologists—during high-impact weather events.
An Investigation of Slacktivism in Online Donation Campaigns: An Abstract

Donations by individuals make up the vast majority of contributions received by nonprofit organizations. Based on the statistics published by Giving USA, around 72% of donations made in 2014 ($258.5 billion) were individual contributions. Not surprisingly, in a digital era, online donation campaigns account for a significant part of contribution figures. Crowdfunding campaigns, in particular, collected about $16 billion in 2014, a 1718% increase from 2010. While it seems intuitive that sharing these campaigns on social media increases donations, as more people get to know about them, the net effect of such sharing has not been studied. Using data collected from a major crowdfunding website, and utilizing three econometrics models, it is shown that sharing crowdfunded campaigns on social media actually has a negative effect on donations. A phenomenon which, in recent literature, has come to be known as slacktivism; the tendency of people to make fast, easy contributions (e.g., sharing a campaign, wearing a bracelet to support a cause, etc.) instead of meaningful, perhaps more difficult contributions (e.g., actually giving money to a cause). It is further shown that consistent with similar social living (non-donation) campaigns (e.g., Groupon), there is a “critical mass” beyond which donations increase significantly. The existence of these phenomena in the nonprofit domain has important strategic implications about how awareness is to be made about nonprofit campaigns in the online world. It could also lead to more creative social media awareness strategies than merely sharing.
Comparison of a Point-of-Care Assay and a High-Complexity Assay for Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Background Numerous nucleic acid amplification assays utilizing different target genes of the SARS-CoV-2 genome have received emergency use authorization (EUA) by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Limited data are available comparing the test performance characteristics of these assays. Methods A diagnostic comparison study was performed to evaluate the performance of the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay compared to the Hologic Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2 assay using clinical nasopharyngeal specimens. Agreement between the two assays was assessed by overall, positive, and negative percent agreement and Cohen's kappa coefficient. Results A total of 104 (54 positive and 50 negative) clinical nasopharyngeal samples were tested by both assays. Using the Panther Fusion as a reference standard, the Xpert demonstrated an overall agreement of 99.0% [95% confidence interval (CI): 94.8-100], positive percent agreement of 98.1% (95% CI: 90.1-100), and a negative percent agreement of 100% (95% CI: 94.2-100). The kappa coefficient was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.94-1.0). One sample positive by the Panther Fusion with a cycle threshold (Ct) of 38.6 was found to be reproducibly negative by the Xpert assay. Conclusions The Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay provides test performance comparable to the Hologic Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2 assay while offering laboratories rapid, on-demand testing capacity.
Degree of approximation by superpositions of a sigmoidal function

In this paper we study the degree of approximation by superpositions of a sigmoidal function. We mainly consider the univariate case. If f is a continuous function, we prove that for any bounded sigmoidal function σ,\(\sigma ,d_{n,\sigma } (f) \leqslant ||\sigma ||\omega (f,\frac{1}{{n + 1}})\). For the Heaviside function H(x), we prove that\(d_{n,H} (f) \leqslant \omega (f,\frac{1}{{2(n + 1)}})\). If f is a continuous function of bounded variation, we prove that\(d_{n,\sigma } (f) \leqslant \frac{{||\sigma ||}}{{(n + 1)}})V(f)\) and\(d_{n,H} \leqslant (f,\frac{1}{{2(n + 1)}})V(f)\). For he Heaviside function, the coefficient 1 and the approximation orders are the best possible. We compare these results with the classical Jackson and Bernstein theorems, and make some conjectures for further study.
SEC Rule 14a-8 Shareholder Proposals: No-Action Requests, Determinants, and the Role of SEC Staff

Under SEC Rule 14a-8, shareholders have the right to petition management to include a topic for vote on the annual proxy statement. In response, management may request no-action relief from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) staff to exclude unwelcome proposals. Using a sample of 2,972 no-action letter responses from the SEC between 2008 and 2019, I examine the determinants of the SEC staff’s decision to grant no-action relief. I find the legal characteristics, pressures on the SEC staff, and proposal attributes have a statistically significant association with the SEC’s decision. Beyond these factors, I find evidence individual SEC staff members differ in the likelihood they grant no-action relief, suggesting heterogeneity among SEC staff characteristics is important for understanding no-action relief decisions.
Abstract 16886: Wall Stress Profiles in Tricuspid Aortic Valve Associated Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: The Effect of Surgical Threshold Diameter ≥5.5cm

Introduction: Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms (aTAAs) carry a risk of dissection. Elective repair guidelines are designed around size thresholds, but the one-dimensional parameter is insufficie...
A faculty and staff workshop on microaggression and implicit bias: Knowledge and awareness of student, faculty, and staff experiences.

Abstract Background and purpose This paper describes the context and experiences of a workshop to raise knowledge and awareness of a college of pharmacy's faculty and staff about microaggressive behaviors and implicit biases. The workshop was intended to provide a non-threatening, interactive, and informative professional development program to demonstrate the cumulative marginalizing effects on students, faculty, and staff who may perceive themselves as targets. Educational activity and setting A half-day workshop was conducted during July 2018. Participants were initially provided with definitions and categories of microaggression and implicit bias. To bring the subject matter “alive” and foster receptivity, interactive videos were shown with scenarios depicting situations reflective of microaggressions and implicit biases. College faculty, staff, and students made these relatable. To foster objectivity, an outside consultant was hired to facilitate the ensuing roundtable and plenary discussions. Findings Sixty-eight participants responded to a pre-survey designed by the workshop team, and 78% indicated never having attended a training/seminar on microaggression and/or implicit bias. Sixty-two individuals responded to the post-survey with 92% indicating increased knowledge gained from workshop. Anecdotal reports suggested that the workshop had an ongoing impact, as faculty and staff continued the discussions in subsequent months and requested additional training sessions. Summary The workshop heightened awareness and increased faculty and staff knowledge on microaggressive behaviors, implicit biases, and the potential consequences thereof. It also demonstrated the importance of addressing conversations that are perceived as difficult, in order to create a diverse and inclusive workplace and learning environment for all.
Validity and acceptability of a high-fidelity physical simulation model for training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Abstract Purpose: The objective was to determine the acceptability and preliminary construct validity for a high-fidelity synthetic renal pelvis/ureter tissue analogue model for use as a simulation model for training of laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Materials and Methods: The pyeloplasty model was designed with incorporated assessment lines for use in post-task Black Light Assessment of Surgical Technique (BLAST)™. Practicing urologists participating in the 2011 and 2012 American Urological Association Mentored Renal Laparoscopy courses performed a simulated laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure and completed a post-task evaluation of the model. Results: Practicing urologists found the model acceptable and rated the model favorably in terms of content and face validity. Urologists who had performed a laparoscopic pyeloplasty procedure in the last 5 years outperformed those who had not by demonstrating increased patency (P<0.05), decreased twisting (P<0.05), and decreased leakage (P<0.10) at the anastomosis. Conc...
Refinement of Nash Equilibrium: The Main Ideas

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the main ideas on the refinements of Nash equilibrium. The number of refinements that have been proposed is staggering. Among others, there are subgame-perfect, perfect, proper, sequential, persistent, justifiable, neologism-proof, stable, perfect-sequential, intuitive, divine, undefeated, and explicable equilibria. This proliferation does not stem from differences in the underlying concepts; on the contrary, all the refinements represent attempts to formalize the same two or three intuitive ideas. A self-enforcing outcome must remain self-enforcing when a strategy is deleted that is inferior at every equilibrium with that outcome. One of the most interesting aspects of signaling games is that they provide a theoretical explanation for the widespread phenomenon of players acting more aggressively than appears warranted by profit maximization. The underlying reason is that the demonstration of strength requires sacrifice. The chapter provides an overview on the restrictions imposed by perfect and sequential equilibria.