cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anesthetic Considerations in a Patient with Myotonic Dystrophy for Hip Labral Repair

Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) affects multiple organ systems. Disorders such as hyperthyroidism, progressive musculoskeletal weakness, cardiac dysrhythmias, hypoventilation, and cognitive-behavioral disorders may be present in these patients. Thorough preoperative assessment and anesthetic planning are required to minimize the risk of anesthetic complications. Patients with DM can exhibit exquisite sensitivity to sedatives, neuromuscular blocking agents, and volatile anesthetics, resulting in potential postoperative complications. There is limited literature available on successful anesthetic techniques for the DM patient. We present this case report to add to our current fund of knowledge.
Sinus Bradycardia in Habitual Cocaine Users

Common physiological manifestations of cocaine are related to its adrenergic effects, due to inhibition of dopamine and norepinephrine uptake at the postsynaptic terminal. Few studies have documented bradycardia secondary to cocaine use, representing the antithesis of its adrenergic effects. We assessed the prevalence of sinus bradycardia (SB) in habitual cocaine users and postulated a mechanism for this effect. One hundred sixty-two patients with a history of cocaine use were analyzed and compared with age- and gender-matched controls. SB was defined as a rate of 30 days apart. Propensity score–matching analysis was applied to balance covariates between cocaine users and nonusers and reduce selection bias. Patients with a history of bradycardia, hypothyroidism, or concomitant beta-blocker use were excluded. Mean age of study patients was 44 ± 8 years. SB was observed in 43 of 162 (27%) cocaine users and in 9 of 149 (6%) nonusers (p = 0.0001). Propensity score–matching analysis matched 218 patients from both groups. Among matched patients SB was observed in 25 of 109 (23%) cocaine users and in 5 of 109 (5%) nonusers (p = 0.0001). Habitual cocaine use was an independent predictor of SB and associated with a sevenfold increase in the risk of SB (95% CI 2.52 to 19.74, p = 0.0002). In conclusion, habitual cocaine use is a strong predictor of SB and was unrelated to recency of use. A potential mechanism for SB may be related to cocaine-induced desensitization of the beta-adrenergic receptor secondary to continuous exposure. Symptomatic SB was not observed; thus, pacemaker therapy was not indicated.
Estimation and projection of institutional building electricity consumption

Abstract This study provides understanding of the influence of outside temperature on intuitional buildings in an urban landscape. We derive heating and cooling degree days for each of the buildings by identifying an appropriate choice of balance point temperatures and perform multiple linear regression seasonally to characterize the temperature-electricity use relations. Our study reveals considerable differences in temperature-electricity relationships based on building use and characteristics. In addition to outside temperature, the weekday effect has large influences on electricity consumption of buildings. Summer months have greater influence of outside temperature on electricity consumption followed by transition months and winter as an increase in one cooling degree day (CDD) increases daily electricity consumption by 0.124 kW/m2 whereas during winter, one heating degree day (HDD) increases daily electricity consumption by 0.025 kW/m2 and by 0.099 kW/m2 during transition months. We apply two kinds of models to project electricity demand for projected temperature profiles in 2030. Both cases strongly suggest higher electricity demand not just in summer months but also during transition periods in spring and fall. Overall, electricity demand increases by 0.95% under a low emission scenario (RCP 4.5) and 2.03% under a high emission scenario (RCP 8.5), which is likely to put immense pressure on the United States electric grid system and an overall increase in the energy cost by 2030.
Age-Specific Prevalence of Binge and High-Intensity Drinking Among U.S. Young Adults: Changes from 2005 to 2015.

Background This study examined changes during the past decade, from 2005 to 2015, in binge and high-intensity drinking in 7 separate age groups of U.S. 12th graders and young adults. Methods National longitudinal data (N = 6,711) from Monitoring the Future were used to examine trends in consuming 5+, 10+, and 15+ drinks on the same occasion in the past 2 weeks from ages 18 to 29/30 overall and by gender. Results were compared with trends in past 12-month and 30-day alcohol use for the same age groups. Results Between 2005 and 2015, binge (5+) and high-intensity drinking (10+, 15+) generally decreased for individuals in their early 20s, remained somewhat stable for individuals in their mid-20s, and increased for individuals at the end of young adulthood (age 29/30). The observed historical trends in binge and high-intensity drinking were similar to those for past 12-month and past 30-day alcohol use for those aged 18 to 20, but diverged for most other age groups in young adulthood. Trends were generally similar for men and women, except that the increase in prevalence began earlier in young adulthood for women than for men. Conclusions Binge and high-intensity drinking among U.S. 12th graders and young adults are dynamic phenomena. Prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the harms resulting from 5+, 10+, and 15+ drinking should acknowledge and focus on differences in trends in these behaviors by age and gender.
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Extended Pyelolithotomy and Ureterolithotomy

This chapter provides an overview of the latest robotic approaches to stone-removing surgery. These include transperitoneal pyelolithotomy, retroperitoneal pyelolithotomy, ureterolithotomy, and anatrophic nephrolithotomy. We provide diagrams to assist with optimal port placement for all versions of the da Vinci robot platform. Finally, we provide suggestions as to when the robotic approach to stone-removing surgery may be preferred.
Qualitative Research Gains Equality: A Review of Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

In this book review of Kumar’s 2011 edition of Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, I provide a summary of the book’s main content and a critical review of its content and structure including both the strengths and weaknesses. I conclude that this new edition of the book with Kumar presenting qualitative research as an equal methodology to quantitative research is an appropriate resource for students who are just starting to learn how to conduct empirical research studies. Two suggestions are provided for its future edition: (a) more classic resources about research methodology; and (b) more discussions about IRB application. Key Words: Research Methodology, Quantitative, Qualitative, Writing Research Report. Research Methodology: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (3rd ed., Kumar, 2011) provides a clearly structured and easily understandable step-by-step guidance for beginners on how to design, conduct, and report an empirical study in various disciplines in social science. It is one of the first books aimed to solely serve novice researchers, which is one reason that the reviewer, a researcher conducting both qualitative and quantitative research in social science, is interested in reviewing the book. In my book review I will first present an overview of the content in the book, then discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and conclude with two suggestions to the author. Kumar’s (2011) book is comprised of eighteen chapters divided into eight sections. The first section provides a general introduction to research, including the first chapter, “Research: A Way of Thinking,” that explains what research is and why research is needed in various areas and the second chapter, “The Research Process: A Quick Glance,” that overviews the steps taken during both a quantitative and qualitative research process. The rest of the sections are arranged based on eight major steps taken in quantitative and qualitative studies respectively. In each chapter, specific steps and examples for both quantitative and qualitative research are also provided separately. The book concludes with one appendix providing a set of exercises to gauge beginners when developing a research project, a glossary explaining the technical terms used in the book, a bibliography, and index. As the first two editions of this book focused on quantitative research, procedures for qualitative research are added on after those for quantitative research are introduced in the current edition. Although it seems the book’s focus is still centered around quantitative research, the current edition provides significant amount of information about qualitative research which is portrayed as an equal methodology rather than secondary or supplementary research methodology to quantitative research.
China’s Path to Achieve World-Class Education

With the reform movement in 1978, the Chinese government began to make great efforts to develop its country’s education. Xi Jinping’s administration has continued these efforts, attempting to achieve a world-class education system by 2020. This paper will examine the accomplishments of the Chinese education system in the post-Mao era, and discuss the gap between the current status of Chinese education and the requirements of a world-class education, ultimately arguing that there is still a big gap between a Chinese education and the most advantaged education systems in the world. To establish a globalized educational system, build world-class universities, and train internationally recognized Chinese scholars, this paper suggests that it is necessary for China to scrutinize and reshape its educational philosophy, since a philosophy of education is the guiding principle for any country to achieve the goal of providing its citizens with a world-class education.
No one can serve two epistemic masters

Consider two epistemic experts—for concreteness, let them be two weather forecasters. Suppose that you aren’t certain that they will issue identical forecasts, and you would like to proportion your degrees of belief to theirs in the following way: first, conditional on either’s forecast of rain being x, you’d like your own degree of belief in rain to be x. Secondly, conditional on them issuing different forecasts of rain, you’d like your own degree of belief in rain to be some weighted average of the forecast of each (perhaps with weights determined by their prior reliability). Finally, you’d like your degrees of belief to be given by an orthodox probability measure. Moderate ambitions, all. But you can’t always get what you want.
Sarcomatoid carcinoma associated with small cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder: a series of 28 cases

The association of sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) with small cell carcinoma (SCC) has not been systematically studied. We identified 39 consult cases between 2001 and 2016 with available slides for review in 28 cases. There were 19 men and 9 women (mean age: 78 years [51-89]). In 26 (92.8%) cases, the sarcomatoid component had nonspecific malignant spindle cells, 4 (14%) chondrosarcoma, 2 (7%) myxoid sarcomatous, 1 (3.5%) osteosarcoma, and 1 (3.5%) rhabdomyosarcoma. The predominant component was SCC in 11 (39%) cases, urothelial carcinoma in 6 (21%), sarcomatoid in 3 (10%), and equal sarcomatoid and SCC in 8 (29%). There were 3 morphological groups: group 1 (18/28 [64%]) showed a gradual transition from SCC to other components; group 2 (5/28 [18%]) had an abrupt transition from SCC to other components; and in group 3 (5/28 [18%]), the SCC was separate from other components. In group 1, 12 (66%) cases of SCC showed a gradual transition to sarcomatoid areas; 3 (17%) to urothelial carcinoma; and 3 (17%) to multiple components including squamous cell carcinoma, urothelial carcinoma, and sarcomatoid. Mortality did not differ based on pathological groups. The 36-month actuarial risk of death was 64.3%. The multitude of different components in these tumors is further evidence of the remarkable ability of carcinoma of the bladder to show divergent differentiation with, in some cases, gradual transition between SCC and other elements including sarcomatoid. Greater recognition of this entity with chemotherapy targeted to the various histological elements may have important therapeutic implications.
Fetal Epigenetic Origins of Disease

It has been postulated that epigenetic changes that occur in utero can lead to profound childhood disease and may be a link between the in utero experience and disease later in life. In this chapter we begin by defining epigenetics and the various epigenetic modifications that have been implicated in the developmental origins of adult disease. We discuss the epigenetics of fertilization, which establishes the fetal epigenome. We discuss the mechanisms of genomic imprinting, and imprinting disorders, which can arise as a result of aberrant DNA methylation. We further summarize studies showing an association (or lack thereof) between assisted reproductive technologies and imprinting disorders. We highlight studies of maternal and paternal constraints such as famine exposure, high fat diet, low protein diet, maternal obesity, maternal smoking, and nutrient supplementation, which both alter the fetal epigenome and predispose the offspring to adult metabolic disease. We close the chapter with a discussion on fields of emerging influence in perinatology that we believe will ultimately be found to be crucial modifiers of the temporal and spatial establishment of the fetal epigenome.
2’, 5’-Oligoadenylate Synthetase 1 (OAS1) expression and function in prostate cancer

4562 Our recent studies have suggested that androgens primarily regulate the immune inflammatory pathways in normal prostate epithelial cells. In general androgens up-regulate the anti-tumor acute inflammatory pathway but down-regulate the pro-tumor chronic inflammatory pathways in normal prostate epithelial cells. In prostate cancer, this regulatory role of androgens is switched in which there is a general loss or decrease in expression of acute inflammatory response genes (e.g. IFN) and a concomitant increase in chronic inflammatory response genes (e.g. IL6). One of the key androgen regulated acute inflammatory gene is 2’, 5’-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1). OAS1 is also an IFN regulated gene that is expressed as part of the innate immune response to viruses. The induction of OAS1 leads to the polymerization of ATP to 2’-5’ -linked adenosine oligomers or 2-5A (pppA(2’p5’A)n) in the presence of dsRNA. 2-5A in turn activates RNASEL, which degrades viral dsRNA. The expression and function of OAS1 is therefore critical for functional RNaseL. RNASEL gene inactivation has also been linked to hereditary prostate cancer. Recently, RNASEL has been reported to have tumor suppressor activities in vitro. However, in sporadic prostate cancer no RNASEL mutations or a significant change in its expression is observed. These observations led us to hypothesize that upstream regulators of RNASEL, such as OAS1 may be disrupted leading to loss of RNASEL function and prostate cancer. In order to test this hypothesis, we performed OAS1 reverse transcription (RT) polymerase chain reactions (PCR) on prostate cancer cell lines PC3, DU145, and LNCaP. Our observations indicate that OAS1 is highly expressed in PC3, but not in DU145 or LNCaP cells. Interestingly, RNASEL is only expressed in DU145 but not in PC3 or LNCaP cells. These results suggest that the OAS1-RNASEL pathway is non-functional in prostate cancer cells. Attenuation of the pathway through genetic approach is currently being used to address the significance of OAS-RNaseL in prostate cancer cell survival and viral response and will be presented.
The ATPase motor of the Chd1 chromatin remodeler stimulates DNA unwrapping from the nucleosome

Chromatin remodelers are ATP-dependent motors that reorganize DNA packaging by disrupting canonical histone-DNA contacts within the nucleosome. Here, we show that the Chd1 chromatin remodeler stimulates DNA unwrapping from the edge of the nucleosome in a nucleotide-dependent and DNA sequence-sensitive fashion. Nucleosome binding, monitored by stopped flow, was complex and sensitive to nucleotide, with AMP-PNP promoting faster binding than ADP·BeF3-. Nucleosome unwrapping by Chd1, examined by bulk FRET, occurred in the presence and absence of nucleotide and did not require the Chd1 DNA-binding domain. In AMP-PNP conditions, Chd1 unwrapped one side of the Widom 601 DNA more easily than the other, consistent with previous observations of 601 asymmetry and indicating that Chd1 amplifies intrinsic sequence properties of nucleosomal DNA. Using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) with contrast variation, we found distinct DNA conformations depending on the nucleotide analog bound to Chd1: with AMP-PNP, DNA primarily unwrapped in-plane with the nucleosomal disk, whereas with ADP·BeF3-, a significant fraction showed distinctive out-of-plane unwrapping as well. Taken together, our findings show tight coupling between entry/exit DNA of the nucleosome and the Chd1 ATPase motor, suggesting that dynamic nucleosome unwrapping is coupled to nucleosome binding and remodeling by Chd1.
Head Tracking for Video Games

This chapter talks about related work on head gesture recognition and usage of head tracking for several applications including games and virtual reality. An experiment which systematically explores the effects of head tracking, in complex gaming environments typically found in commercial video games is presented. This experiment seeks to find if there are any performance benefits of head tracking in games and how it affects the user experience. We present the results of this experiment along with some guidelines for the game designers who wish to use head tracking for games.
A Critique on the Use of Adenosine Deaminase to Test the Adenosine Hypothesis: Disregarded Implicit Assumptions

The idea that intracoronary injection of adenosine deaminase should destroy interstitial fluid adenosine and abolish regulation of coronary blood flow has sparked a number of controversial studies. In some studies adenosine deaminase infusion failed to block vascular responses attributed to endogenous adenosine, but in others it depressed them. Such results are to be expected because the amount of adenosine deaminase calculated from direct measurements of enzyme kinetics (in the adenosine concentration range of 10−8-1(10−3 M) necessary to destroy adenosine in the myocardial interstitial fluid is considerably greater than that used by investigators who have used this approach.
Regulatory Conventions and Institutions that Govern Global Agricultural Trade

The World Trade Organization (WTO) came into existence in 1995, with the objective to help member countries agree on common principles to facilitate international trade. At the core of WTO are a series of agreements that cover goods, services, and intellectual property. One of the agreements, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (the SPS Agreement), has had a significant impact on regulations that affect global agricultural trade. This article discusses the main provisions of the SPS agreement and provides a brief overview of the role of the World Organization for Animal Health, the International Plant Protection Convention and the Codex Alimentarius, in developing international standards for animal health, plant health and food safety.
Systemic Integration of IFS Therapy and 12-Step Facilitation for Substance Use: A Theoretical Discussion

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are a major problem in the United States that have reverberating effects within families, communities, and society. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are uniquely positioned to be leaders in addressing SUDs through a systemic relational context. Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) is an evidence-based practice that has the potential to be an excellent fit for individuals, couples, and families struggling with SUDs. In addition, 12-Step facilitation provides a supportive network for individuals dealing with substance use issues. This article uses a systemic approach to integrating IFS and 12-Step facilitation for use with the emerging adult population. A case study example is provided to illustrate the integrated model.
CHAPTER 61 – Assays for cytokines

This chapter deals with cytokine measurements, which is an important part of the process of discovery and understanding of the cytokine biology, although the role various cytokines play in health and disease remains incomplete, as significant progress made in linking certain cytokines to pathologic changes in disease. This encouraged efforts to monitor patients' plasma/tissues for levels of cytokines, and tries to correlate the results of various cytokine assays with clinical endpoints. Cytokines are not “biomarkers” of disease activity. Interactions of one cytokine with another, with their soluble receptors or with various antagonists explain the lack of correlation observed between systemic levels of cytokines, and the clinical findings. An excess of one cytokine results in suppressed production of another, but an excessive utilization of a cytokine results in low plasma level. The presence of cytokine receptor antagonists in human sera inhibits the biological activity of IL-1s by occupying its receptors on tissue cells. The more recent use of cytokines as pharmacologic agents is facilitated by an extremely rapid process of cytokine discovery, the ability to clone their genes, and the availability of cytokine recombinant proteins. Cytokine gene therapies, which represent a novel strategy of cytokine delivery to the targeted sites, take advantage of the ability to transfer cytokine genes to cells, induce cytokine production, and thus regulate essential cellular functions. Application of cytokine genomics and proteomics in the near future is expected to rapidly advance the field of cytokine detection and to facilitate interpretation of cytokine patterns in relation to clinical events.
Using Participatory Action Research to Teach Community Practice in a Post-Truth Era

[full article, abstract in English; abstract in Lithuanian] This project focuses on the learning experiences of master of social work students in an advanced community practice course. The primary pedagogical method for the class was participatory action research, specifically the photovoice method. The MSW students completed a photovoice project focused on campus sexual violence in which they recruited students, outside the class, as participants. As coursework, students generated reflection papers, responses to readings, and focus group notes. These artifacts constituted the data for this project. The data analysis included grounded theory methods and a focus on post-truth politics, from which three categories emerged: (a) supporting cultural competence, (b) facilitating self-awareness (c) and viewing truth as multifaceted.
Evaluating radiotherapy treatment delay using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Abstract Purpose This study identified and evaluated the factors that are responsible for delay in the clinical workflow of radiation therapy, starting from the CT simulation (CT-Sim) to the first fraction of treatment delivery using the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) methodology. Materials and methods A total of 1106 patient cases were retrospectively analyzed using FMEA methodology. For each failure mode (FM), the following factors were rated and discussed by the group: occurrence (O), severity (S), detectability (D), and methods of improvement or mitigation. In addition, two new factors, namely social effect (SE) and economic effect (EE), were introduced to evaluate the impact of FM on the department or hospital. Risk priority number (RPN) and the product of RPN, SE, and EE (i.e. RPNSE-EE) were calculated for each FM. Results Average delay caused by identified FM was 8 days while 76% of the FMs resulted in delay of less than 5 days. The RPN of all the FMs ranged from 4 to 60 with an average value of 18. “Tumor volume, prescription and objective” had the highest average RPN of 23. The majority of FMs with high RPN were identified in “CT-Sim” (RPN: 21.5 ± 11.1; RPNSE-EE: 97.0 ± 46.4) and “treatment planning” (RPN: 20.1 ± 8.1, RPNSE-EE: 152.9 ± 76.5) stages. Conclusion The FMEA enabled identification of the factors that caused delay in the pre-treatment process of radiation therapy. “CT-Sim” and “treatment planning” stages had more FMs with high RPN values which have higher priority for future improvement. Two new factors, SE and EE, were introduced and appeared to be valuable in evaluating the impact of FMs on radiation oncology department or hospital in general.
Evaluation of gastric motility in nine dogs before and after prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy: a pilot study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy on gastric motility in healthy large‐breed dogs. METHODS: This was a prospective pilot study with nine healthy client‐owned dogs. Each dog was its own control. Gastric motility was evaluated before and after laparoscopic gastropexy. Dogs were fed a standard diet three weeks before and after surgery. Gastric motility was measured before and 3 weeks after surgery. A wireless motility capsule (WMC) was used to measure gastric pH, intragastric pressure, temperature, frequency of contractions, motility index (MI) and transit time. Non‐parametric statistical analysis was used to compare the paired data. Clients were contacted for follow‐up information 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Median frequency of gastric contractions was 1.3 (range, 0.6–1.9 contractions/min) before gastropexy and 1.0 (range, 0.3–2.6 contractions/min) after gastropexy (P = 0.820). Median MI was 49.2 (range, 23.7–96.6) before gastropexy and 28.1 (range, 12.2–148.9) after gastropexy (P = 0.652). Median gastric emptying time was 1140 (range, 486–1230 min) before gastropexy and 1110 (range, 306–2610 min) after gastropexy (P = 0.570). During the hour before the WMC passed through the pylorus, median MI was 72.2 (range, 48.2–549.3) before gastropexy and 52.9 (range, 15.20–322.8) after gastropexy (P = 0.734), and frequency of contractions was 1.1 (range, 0.9–4.1 contractions/min) before gastropexy and 1.2 (range, 0.5–3.0 contractions/min) after gastropexy (P = 0.652). CONCLUSION: Motility in the stomach did not change in healthy dogs after prophylactic laparoscopic gastropexy. We conclude that preventive laparoscopic gastropexy does not induce gastroparesis.
Physiological mechanisms underlying children's circannual growth patterns and their contributions to the obesity epidemic in elementary school age children

Several studies since the 1990s have demonstrated that children increase their body mass index at a faster rate during summer months compared with the school year, leading some to conclude that the out-of-school summer environment is responsible. Other studies, however, have suggested that seasonality may play a role in children's height and weight changes across the year. This article reviews evidence for seasonal differences in the rate of children's height and weight gain and proposes potential physiological mechanisms that may explain these seasonal variations.
A Nurse's Perspective: Blindness in Long-Term Care Facilities:

The blind elderly residents of long-term care facilities often have multiple, complex problems, both physical and psychological, involving loss of hearing, immobility, language barriers, brain synd...
Reducing HIV stigma among healthcare providers in India using a partly tablet-administered intervention: the DriSti trial

HIV stigma has long been recognized as a significant barrier in the worldwide fight against HIV. Across cultures, stigma has been shown to cause psychological distress and act as a barrier to engag...
Alveolar Epithelial Type II Cells as Drivers of Lung Fibrosis in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

: Alveolar epithelial type II cells (AT2) are a heterogeneous population that have critical secretory and regenerative roles in the alveolus to maintain lung homeostasis. However, impairment to their normal functional capacity and development of a pro-fibrotic phenotype has been demonstrated to contribute to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). A number of factors contribute to AT2 death and dysfunction. As a mucosal surface, AT2 cells are exposed to environmental stresses that can have lasting effects that contribute to fibrogenesis. Genetical risks have also been identified that can cause AT2 impairment and the development of lung fibrosis. Furthermore, aging is a final factor that adds to the pathogenic changes in AT2 cells. Here, we will discuss the homeostatic role of AT2 cells and the studies that have recently defined the heterogeneity of this population of cells. Furthermore, we will review the mechanisms of AT2 death and dysfunction in the context of lung fibrosis.
A dynamical model of oncotripsy by mechanical cell fatigue: selective cancer cell ablation by low-intensity pulsed ultrasound

The method of oncotripsy, first proposed in Heyden & Ortiz (Heyden & Ortiz 2016 J. Mech. Phys. Solids 92, 164–175 (doi:10.1016/j.jmps.2016.04.016)), exploits aberrations in the material properties and morphology of cancerous cells in order to ablate them selectively by means of tuned low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. We propose the dynamical model of oncotripsy that follows as an application of cell dynamics, statistical mechanical theory of network elasticity and ‘birth–death’ kinetics to describe the processes of damage and repair of the cytoskeleton. We also develop a reduced dynamical model that approximates the three-dimensional dynamics of the cell and facilitates parametric studies, including sensitivity analysis and process optimization. We show that the dynamical model predicts—and provides a conceptual basis for understanding—the oncotripsy effect and other trends in the data of Mittelstein et al. (Mittelstein et al. 2019 Appl. Phys. Lett. 116, 013701 (doi:10.1063/1.5128627)), for cells in suspension, including the dependence of cell-death curves on cell and process parameters.
Choreographing exclusion: protest, race, and place in São Paulo

This essay considers how street protest, a nearly ubiquitous presence in the past decade during Brazil’s political turmoil, deconstructs twentieth century mythologies of racial mixing while potenti...
Study on Barriers to Implementing Electronic Prescribing from the Pediatric Emergency Department

Abstract Purpose Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) is an important core measure of the meaningful use rules as indicated by HITECH ACT in 2009. E-prescribing has other benefits as well including increased patient safety, improved communication with pharmacies, decreased pharmacy wait time leading to improved patient satisfaction. The objective of this study is a to determine the current rate of electronic prescribing from the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) upon discharge and evaluate any barriers to the process. Methods There are 19 attending physicians that work …
Intrinsic and extrinsic regulators of oligodendrocyte progenitor proliferation and differentiation

Oligodendrocytes are highly specialized glial cells, responsible for producing myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). The multi-stage process of oligodendrocyte development is tightly regulated to ensure proper lineage progression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) to mature myelin producing oligodendrocytes. This developmental process involves complex interactions between several intrinsic signaling pathways that are modulated by an array of extrinsic factors. Understanding these regulatory processes is of crucial importance, as it may help to identify specific molecular targets both to enhance plasticity in the normal CNS and to promote endogenous recovery following injury or disease. This review describes two major regulators that play important functional roles in distinct phases of oligodendrocyte development: OPC proliferation and differentiation. Specifically, we highlight the roles of the extracellular astrocyte/radial glia-derived protein Endothelin-1 in OPC proliferation and the intracellular Akt/mTOR pathway in OPC differentiation. Lastly, we reflect on how recent advances in neuroscience and scientific technology will enable greater understanding into how intrinsic and extrinsic regulators interact to generate oligodendrocyte diversity.
Is Asking Questions on Rounds a Teachable Skill? A Randomized Controlled Trial to Increase Attendings’ Asking Questions

Background Morning bedside rounds remain an essential part of Internal Medicine residency education, but rounds vary widely in terms of educational value and learner engagement. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to increase the number and variety of questions asked by attendings at the bedside and assess its impact. Design We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of our intervention. Participants Hospitalist attendings on the general medicine service were invited to participate. Twelve hospitalists were randomized to the experimental group and ten hospitalists to the control group. Intervention A one-hour interactive session which teaches and models the method of asking questions using a non-medical case, followed by practice using role plays with medical cases. Main Measures Our primary outcome was the number of questions asked by attendings during rounds. We used audio-video recordings of rounds evaluated by blinded reviewers to quantify the number of questions asked, and we also recorded the type of question and the person asked. We assessed whether learners found rounds worthwhile using anonymous surveys of residents, patients, and nurses. Key Results Blinded analysis of the audio-video recordings demonstrated significantly more questions asked by attendings in the experimental group compared to the control group (mean number of questions 23.5 versus 10.8, p< 0.001) with significantly more questions asked of the residents (p<0.003). Residents rated morning bedside rounds with the experimental attendings as significantly more worthwhile compared to rounds with the control group attendings (p=0.009). Conclusion Our study findings highlight the benefits of a one-hour intervention to teach faculty a method of asking questions during bedside rounds. This educational strategy had the positive outcome of including significantly more resident voices at the bedside. Residents who rounded with attendings in the experimental group were more likely to "strongly agree" that bedside rounds were "worthwhile".
Malnutrition in elective shoulder arthroplasty: a multi-institutional retrospective study of preoperative albumin and adverse outcomes.

Background Malnutrition is associated with poor postoperative outcomes after knee, hip, and spine surgery. However, whether albumin labs should be part of the routine preoperative workup for shoulder arthroplasty remains understudied. This study investigated the role of preoperative albumin levels in predicting common postoperative adverse outcomes in patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty. Methods All shoulder arthroplasty cases performed at 2 tertiary referral centers between July 2013 and May 2019 (institution 1) and between June 2007 and Feb 2020 (institution 2) were reviewed. A total of 421 primary and 71 revision elective shoulder arthroplasty cases had preoperative albumin levels recorded. Common demographic variables and relevant Elixhauser comorbidities were pulled. Outcomes gathered included extended (>3 days) postoperative inpatient length of stay (eLOS), 90-day readmission, and discharge to rehab or skilled nursing facility (SNF). Results The prevalence of malnutrition (albumin Conclusion Malnutrition is more prevalent among revision shoulder arthroplasty patients compared with those undergoing a primary procedure. Primary shoulder arthroplasty patients with low preoperative albumin levels have an increased risk of eLOS and may have an increased need for postacute care. Low albumin was not associated with a risk of 90-day readmissions. Albumin level merits further investigation in large, prospective cohorts to clearly define its role in preoperative risk stratification.
Why or Why Not? The Effect of Justification Styles on Chatbot Recommendations

Chatbots or conversational recommenders have gained increasing popularity as a new paradigm for Recommender Systems (RS). Prior work on RS showed that providing explanations can improve transparency and trust, which are critical for the adoption of RS. Their interactive and engaging nature makes conversational recommenders a natural platform to not only provide recommendations but also justify the recommendations through explanations. The recent surge of interest inexplainable AI enables diverse styles of justification, and also invites questions on how styles of justification impact user perception. In this article, we explore the effect of “why” justifications and “why not” justifications on users’ perceptions of explainability and trust. We developed and tested a movie-recommendation chatbot that provides users with different types of justifications for the recommended items. Our online experiment (n = 310) demonstrates that the “why” justifications (but not the “why not” justifications) have a significant impact on users’ perception of the conversational recommender. Particularly, “why” justifications increase users’ perception of system transparency, which impacts perceived control, trusting beliefs and in turn influences users’ willingness to depend on the system’s advice. Finally, we discuss the design implications for decision-assisting chatbots.
A functional analysis of circadian pacemakers in nocturnal rodents

1 Phase response curves for 15′ bright light pulses of four species of nocturnal rodents are described. All show delay phase shifts early in the subjective night, advance shifts in the late subjective night, and relative insensitivity during the subjective day. 2 The broad scatter in measured phase-shifts is largely due to error of measurement: the response of the pacemakers to light stimuli is more accurate than we observe. 3. Indications are found that the response to a resetting stimulus at a given phase of the rhythm is correlated with the individual\(\bar \tau \) (freerunning period). Fast pacemakers (short\(\bar \tau \)) tend to be more delayed or less advanced by the light than slow pacemakers (long\(\bar \tau \)). 4. Within individual mice (Mus musculus) the circadian pacemaker adjusts its resetting response to variations in its frequency: when τ is long (induced as after-effect of prior light treatment) light pulses at a defined phase of the oscillation (ct 15) produce smaller delay phase shifts than when τ is short. 5. Among species there are conspicuous differences in the shape of the phase response curve: where\(\bar \tau \) is long, advance phase shifts are large and delay phase shifts small (Mesocricetus auratus); where\(\bar \tau \) is short, advance shifts are small, and delay shifts are large (Mus musculus;Peromyscus maniculatus). 6. The functional meaning of the interrelationships of τ and PRC is briefly discussed.
The Emerging Relevance of Telemedicine in Sleep Medicine

Sleep is an essential part of maintaining physical and mental well-being. Sleep disorders are among the most common clinical problems in medicine. It is estimated that approximately 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems, with insomnia being the most common disorder, followed by sleep apnea, and then restless legs syndrome. Insufficient or non-restorative sleep can significantly impair a person’s quality of life and has been linked to injuries, chronic debilitating diseases (e.g., strokes, cardiac disease, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, cancer), mental illness, increased health-care costs, and loss of work productivity. Almost 20 % of all serious car crash injuries in the USA are associated with driver sleepiness.
A New Alarm Setpoint Determination of Gaseous Effluent Radiation Monitoring Systems in Nuclear Power Plants Based on ICRP-60 Recommendations

The Korean Atomic Laws require assurance that radioactive materials contained in gaseous effluents do not exceed the Effluent Concentration Limits (ECLs) as set forth in the Korean radiation protection standards. This simply means that any effluent that could possibly contain radioactivity must be monitored.Off-line gas, iodine and particulate monitors are extensively used in conjunction with a stack or duct where an effluent is released into the environment. The alarm setpoint for low range effluent noble gas monitors must be established to ensure that the dose due to the release of a noble gas does not exceed a total body dose of 5 mSv per year at the site boundary for the combined releases from all units.The revised radiation protection guidelines in Korea are based largely on the 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). The ICRP recommended a dose limit of 1 mSv/y in its 1990 recommendations. Because of these changes, we examined the impact on the setpoin...
Computer Applications: An Overview

Veterinarians can profit from practice management packages, computer-aided diagnostics, educational software, and recreational programs. Computers must solve the users’ problems or they are worthless. With appropriate applications, they represent one of the most cost-effective instruments in the practice.
Repair of enterocele and vault prolapse: transvaginal culdosuspension.

Purpose Transvaginal culdosuspension for treatment of enterocele and vaginal vault prolapse is described. Surgical principles include high ligation of the hernia sac, obliteration of the cul-de-sac, and support of the vaginal cuff high on the levator plate. The normal vaginal axis is restored, and adequate vaginal depth is provided for normal sexual activity. Materials and methods One hundred four patients underwent transvaginal culdosuspension in conjunction with enterocele repair (64 patients) or vaginal hysterectomy (40 patients). Two culdosuspension sutures support the vaginal vault to the origin of the sacrouterine and cardinal ligaments, and the cul-de-sac is obliterated with two pursestring sutures. Results One hundred patients were followed-up for a mean of 17.3 months. Recurrent vault prolapse or enterocele occurred in four patients. Complications were rare, and there were no instances of vaginal foreshortening, urinary retention, vaginal skin necrosis, bladder perforation, or rectovaginal fistula. Conclusions Transvaginal culdosuspension is a safe and effective surgery for enterocele and vaginal vault prolapse. This technique restores the normal vaginal depth and axis, resulting in a sexually functional vagina.
Evolutionary Response to Rapid Climate Change

Recent, rapid climate change is driving evolution, as organisms adapt to altered seasonal events rather than to the direct effects of increasing temperature.
Analysis of transient characteristics of lateral IGBTs and diodes on silicon-on-insulator substrates with trenched buried oxide structure

We have investigated the dynamic characteristics of lateral IGBTs and diodes on SOI with trenched buried oxide (Box) layers by carrying out device simulations under an inductive load. For the first time, we have found that the collector current of the lateral IGBT with the trenched Box layer decays in a considerably relaxed fashion during the turn-off transient and exhibits a long tail. Further, the collector voltage shows a remarkably large surge. These phenomena are explained by the retarded flow of holes along the Box surface because of the trench sidewalls.
A COMPARISON OF DRAGON KELP, EUALARIA FISTULOSA, (PHAEOPHYCEAE) FECUNDITY IN URCHIN BARRENS AND NEARBY KELP BEDS THROUGHOUT THE ALEUTIAN ARCHIPELAGO(1).

The Aleutian Archipelago coastal ecosystem has undergone a dramatic change in community composition during the past two decades. Following the removal of ∼99% of the sea otters, Enhydra lutris, from the ecosystem, changes to the benthic communities resulted in widespread losses to most of the region's kelp beds and corresponding increases in the prevalence of urchin barrens. Within the urchin barrens, the few kelps that have remained are exposed to elevated light, nutrients and currents, all of which may enhance their physiological condition and thus result in greater fecundity. To explore this further, we examined patterns of sporophyte fecundity in the dominant canopy-forming kelp, Eualaria fistulosa, in both urchin barrens and in nearby kelp beds at seven Aleutian Islands spanning a range of 800 km. We found that the average weight of E. fistulosa sporophyll bundles was significantly greater on sporophytes occurring in the urchin barrens than in the nearby kelp beds. Furthermore, the average number of zoospores released per cm(2) of sporophyll area was also significantly greater in individuals from the urchin barrens than the nearby kelp beds. When these two metrics were combined, our results suggest that individual E. fistulosa sporophytes occurring in the urchin barrens may produce as many as three times more zoospores than individual E. fistulosa sporophytes occurring in the nearby kelp beds, and thus they may contribute disproportionately to the following year's sporophyte recruitment in both urchin barrens and the adjacent kelp beds.
An avian outbreak associated with panzootic equine influenza in 1872: an early example of highly pathogenic avian influenza?

Please cite this paper as: Morens and Taubenberger (2010) An avian outbreak associated with panzootic equine influenza in 1872: an early example of highly pathogenic avian influenza? Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 4(6), 373–377. Background An explosive fatal epizootic in poultry, prairie chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, occurred over much of the populated United States between 15 November and 15 December 1872. To our knowledge the scientific literature contains no mention of the nationwide 1872 poultry outbreak. Objective To understand avian influenza in a historical context. Results The epizootic progressed in temporal-geographic association with a well-reported panzootic of equine influenza that had begun in Canada during the last few days of September 1872. The 1872 avian epizootic was universally attributed at the time to equine influenza, a disease then of unknown etiology but widely believed to be caused by the same transmissible respiratory agent that caused human influenza. Conclusions Another microbial agent could have caused the avian outbreak; however, its strong temporal and geographic association with the equine panzootic, and its clinical and epidemiologic features, are most consistent with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The avian epizootic could thus have been an early instance of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Disulfide Bond Formation Enzymes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the disulfide bond (Dsb) formation and isomerization in the periplasm of the model organism E.coli and focuses on the enzymatic properties of disulfide catalysts and isomerases. Disulfide bond formation and isomerization are catalyzed processes in both prokaryotes and eukaryotic organisms, and the enzymes responsible are called the “disulfide bond (Dsb) enzymes” for their ability to affect the formation and isomerization of disulfide bonds. DsbA and DsbB are responsible for thiol oxidation and DsbC, DsbG, and DsbD are responsible for disulfide isomerization. DsbA is a strong oxidant and is capable of very rapid thiol–disulfide exchange reactions, while the membrane-bound protein DsbB performs the reoxidation of DsbA. DsbC can rearrange disulfides in vivo and in vitro , and DsbD is an integral membrane protein whose function is to keep DsbC in a reduced state. However, DsbB is a central player in disulfide bond formation in prokaryotes as it links disulfide bond formation to electron transport. The structural characterization of the full-length protein and/or intermediates of electron transfer should give further insight into the detailed molecular mechanism.