cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Agricultural Sustainability in Agroforestry Systems

Sustainability is an intuitively understandable but difficult-to-measure concept. Despite numerous efforts over the years to measure and integrate the ecological, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, a set of universally acceptable standards for measuring sustainability does not exist. The prevailing ecology–economy conflict, in which ecologists consider economics as a subset of environment, while economists view the environment and its benefits as part of the economy, adds to the difficulty. Agroforestry systems (AFSs), considered paradigms of sustainability, are faced with these difficulties when it comes to measuring and comparing various AFSs with one another or with other land-use systems. In ecological terms, the best criteria and indicators of AFS sustainability are ecosystem services, such as soil-fertility improvement, climate-change mitigation through carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. As an example of the variability of one of these measures across studies, estimates of carbon (C) stored in AFSs range from 30 to 300 Mg C ha−1 up to 1 m soil depth; additionally, 0.29–15.21 Mg C ha−1 year−1 is estimated to be accumulated in aboveground biomass although most of it may not contribute to long-term C storage. In terms of economic sustainability, the principles and procedures of ecological economics and valuation of ecosystem services are useful approaches. Measurement of social sustainability, perhaps more challenging than measurement of the ecological and economic components, entails assessment of such social factors as policy, culture, and other socioeconomic indicators; a single measure of the combined manifestation of all these indicators is the adoption of improved practices by targeted land users. Standard procedures are available for measuring many of these indicators; however, most of them entail measurements taken over relatively long periods of time. Even if measurements and assessments are made rigorously, the ultimate benefit will depend on how sustainability is perceived and valued at all levels, from land users to national and international policy makers.
The Concern of the Consumer for Food and Nutrition

The extensive nutrition research and increased governmental regulations together with many publications, lectures, and classes in nutrition cannot guarantee that people are well nourished. Consumer has the freedom to choose the food he eats and is responsible for his own nutrition and nutritional status. The consumer's responsibility is shared to some extent by the individual who selects the food, and plans, prepares, and serves the meals for other people, both adults and children. This may be a homemaker, mother, dietitian, school lunch manager, home economist in business, teacher, restaurateur, or the proprietor of a burger-bar. All of them assume some responsibility for the nutrition and subsequently the health of the people they serve. Good nutritional status of people requires that those who serve food to the consumer as well as the consumer should select food first for its nutritive value and in addition for whatever other reasons influence his food choices. Education for the consumer is inadequate unless it provides an understanding of nutrition.Consumer has the responsibility of being actively concerned that the nutritive quality of food is the primary goal of the food production, processing, and marketing industry of government and private consumer protection agencies, and most of all, the consumer himself in his food selection and eating habits. This chapter presents a discussion on the governmental protection of the food consumer. A number of nongovernmental and private agencies are concerned with serving the consumer of food primarily through education instead of legal protection. The chapter highlights some of these organizations and their services.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium chimaera Type Strain Fl-0169.

ABSTRACT We report here the draft genome sequence of the type strain Mycobacterium chimaera Fl-0169, a member of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). M. chimaera Fl-0169T was isolated from a patient in Italy and is highly similar to strains of M. chimaera isolated in Ireland, although Fl-0169T possesses unique virulence genes.
Impact of Urban Neighborhood Disadvantage on Late Stage Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Virginia.

Research suggests that residents of inner-city urban neighborhoods have higher rates of late stage cancer diagnosis. Identifying urban neighborhoods with high rates of both concentrated disadvantage and late stage cancer diagnosis may assist health care providers to target screening interventions to reduce disparities. The purposes of this study were to (1) create an index to evaluate concentrated disadvantage (CD) using non-racial measures of poverty, (2) determine the impact of neighborhood CD on late stage breast cancer diagnosis in US cities, and (3) to understand the role of obesity on this relationship. We used census block group- (CBG) level poverty indicators from five Virginia cities to develop the index. Breast cancer cases of women aged 18–65 who lived in the five cities were identified from the 2000–2012 Virginia Cancer Registry. A logistic regression model with random intercept was used to evaluate the impact of disadvantage on late stage breast cancer diagnosis. CBG-level maps were developed to geographically identify neighborhoods with both high rates of CD and late breast cancer staging. Over 900 CBGs and 6000 breast cases were included. Global fit of the concentrated disadvantage model was acceptable. The effect of disadvantage on late stage was significant (OR = 1.0083, p = 0.032). Inner-city poverty impacts risk of late stage breast cancer diagnosis. Area-level obesity is highly correlated with neighborhood poverty (ρ = 0.74, p < 0.0001) but the mediating direct and indirect effects are non-significant. Intervening in these high poverty neighborhoods may help combat disparities in late stage diagnosis for urban poor and for minorities living in these underserved neighborhoods, but more study is needed to understanding the complex relationship between concentrated neighborhood poverty, obesity, and late stage diagnosis.
Feed withdrawal and transportation effects on Salmonella enterica levels in market-weight pigs.

Feed withdrawal and transport commonly occur together in pigs. Objectives of this study were to determine if these preslaughter stressors, feed withdrawal and transportation, affect the levels of , stress hormone concentrations, and immune functions in infected market pigs. A 2 × 2 factorial analysis of a randomized complete block design with feed withdrawal and transport as fixed effects was used. Sixty market-weight pigs were individually inoculated with serovar Typhimurium. The experiment was replicated 3 times (blocking factor) with 20 pigs per replicate. Three days after inoculation, the pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatments (5 pigs per treatment in each/replicate), including 1) control (Control; or no stress), 2) feed withdrawal for 12 h (FW), 3) transportation for 2 h (T), and 4) feed withdrawal for 12 h followed by transportation for 2 h (FWT). Feed withdrawal by itself or followed by transportation caused an increase of levels in ileal contents ( 0.10). Cortisol increased in pigs from all 3 stress treatments ( 0.03). Each granulocyte percentage (neutrophil, eosinophils, and basophils) increased ( 0.05) by feed withdrawal with transport. Lymphocytes were suppressed ( < 0.05) by all stressors, and the greatest suppression occurred when pigs were transported (T and FWT). However, monocytes were suppressed ( < 0.05) compared with Controls only by FWT. Expression of IL-1 (produced by monocytes/macrophages) from the spleen cells increased ( < 0.05) with FW compared with Controls, whereas its receptor antagonist was suppressed by FWT ( < 0.05). It is concluded that some typical preslaughter practices, such as feed withdrawal and transportation, lead to greater intestinal levels and gut-associated lymphoid tissue markers of inflammation in market pigs and, consequently, to an increased food safety risk.
Synthesis of Zn3As2 and (CdyZn1–y)3As2 Colloidal Quantum Dots

The synthesis and characterization of luminescent Zn3As2 and (CdyZn1-y)3As2 quantum dots with observable excitonic transitions ranging from 560 to 1000 nm and quantum yields as high as 60% are reported. The synthesis of these nanocrystals was enabled through the in-situ formation of zinc and cadmium oligomeric species prior to nucleation. Three methods of calculating the composition were used (PXRD, UV-Vis, ICP-OES) and all showed an enhancement of cadmium incorporation as high as >70% when only 35% cadmium is used in the reaction. NMR spectroscopy and UV-Vis analysis corroborate the faster formation of Cd-As compared to Zn-As bonds.
Innovation through Large-Scale Integration of Legacy Records: Assessing the “Value Added” in Cultural Heritage Resources

Using the Chaco Research Archive (CRA) as a case study, in this article, we discuss the spectrum of intellectual decisions: conceptualization, design, and development, required to make legacy records (accumulated over many years through numerous archaeological expeditions) publicly accessible. Intellectual and operational choices permeated the design and implementation of the digital architecture to provide internet access to the vast information structures inherent in legacy records for the cultural heritage of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. We explore how an expansive but focused repository can enable opportunities for research and foster communities of co-creation. We also use the CRA as a case study to outline some of the pitfalls of conventional academic metrics for scholarly impact and provide some alternative means to assess the value of digital heritage resources.
CSNK1a1 Regulates PRMT1 to Maintain the Progenitor State in Self-Renewing Somatic Tissue

Summary Somatic progenitors sustain tissue self-renewal while suppressing premature differentiation. Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) affect many processes; however, their role in progenitor function is incompletely understood. PRMT1 was found to be the most highly expressed PRMT in epidermal progenitors and the most downregulated PRMT during differentiation. In targeted mouse knockouts and in long-term regenerated human mosaic epidermis in vivo, epidermal PRMT1 loss abolished progenitor self-renewal and led to premature differentiation. Mass spectrometry of the PRMT1 protein interactome identified the CSNK1a1 kinase, which also proved essential for progenitor maintenance. CSNK1a1 directly bound and phosphorylated PRMT1 to control its genomic targeting to PRMT1-sustained proliferation genes as well as PRMT1-suppressed differentiation genes. Among the latter were GRHL3, whose derepression was required for the premature differentiation seen with PRMT1 and CSNK1a1 loss. Maintenance of the progenitors thus requires cooperation by PRMT1 and CSNK1a1 to sustain proliferation gene expression and suppress premature differentiation driven by GRHL3.
En bloc endoscopic mucosal resection is equally effective for sessile serrated polyps and conventional adenomas

Sessile serrated polyps (SSPs) are associated with higher rates of incomplete resection compared to conventional adenomas after traditional snare polypectomy. Outcomes after endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) are less established. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of residual neoplasia at surveillance colonoscopy for SSPs compared to conventional adenomas ≥ 10 mm after en bloc EMR. Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients referred for EMR of a colonic lesion ≥ 10 mm from 2005 to 2013. Data on procedures, histopathology, and surveillance colonoscopies were recorded. The primary outcome was rate of macroscopically evident residual neoplasia at surveillance colonoscopy for SSPs compared to adenomas. Secondary outcomes included rate of neoplasia at the resection margin. 283 consecutive patients with 293 polyps underwent en bloc EMR including 101 SSPs and 192 adenomas. Pathology commented on the lateral resection margins of the specimen in 235 cases (80%). Of these, neoplasia was noted at the resection margin in 29/64 SSPs (45.3%) compared to 65/171 adenomas (38.0%; P = .37). Surveillance data were available for 153 index lesions with a median interval of 13 months (interquartile range, 10.75–23.25 months). Ten resection sites (6.5%) were found to have residual neoplasia, including 2/52 SSPs (3.8%) and 8/101 adenomas (7.9%; P = .50). Of the cases with surveillance data 128/153 (84%) commented on the lateral margin of the resection specimen. Residual neoplasia was noted in 3/68 lesions (4.4%) with negative margins compared to 5/60 lesions (8.3%) with positive margins (P = .47). En bloc EMR for colonic lesions ≥ 10 mm is associated with a 6.5% rate of macroscopic residual neoplasia. Although 45% of SSPs had neoplasia extending to the resection margin, rates of residual neoplasia at surveillance colonoscopy were low. These results suggest that when feasible en bloc EMR is a reasonable option to resect SSPs ≥ 10 mm.
Remediating disability activism in the lesbian feminist archive

AbstractThis article argues that U.S.-based lesbian feminist cultural work of the 1980s constitutes a generative – but underutilized – archive for scholarship on the intersection of feminist, queer and disability studies. Specifically, this article uses a May 1981 special issue of the feminist newspaper off our backs (oob) on ‘Women With Disabilities’ to historicize the emergence of a network of lesbian feminist disability activists. Tucked between the pages of this special issue of oob are, for example, Connie Panzarino’s vision for a non-monogamous community of disabled women and a reproduction of Tee Corinne’s solarized photograph of a woman in a wheelchair with her able-bodied lover. In exploring a small and largely forgotten network of lesbian disability activists, this article reads their cultural work as world making projects that model a mode of activist praxis and theory writing for the present moment.
Challenges in detecting UAS with radar

The recent proliferation of drones has contributed to the emergence of new threats in security applications. Because of their great agility and small size, UAS can be used for numerous missions and are very challenging to detect. Radar technology with its all-weather capability can play an important role in detecting UAS-based threats and in protecting critical assets. However, to be successful, radars have to quickly scan large volumes with great sensitivity, eliminate nuisance alarms from birds and discriminate UAS from ground targets. Radar parameters, antenna scan techniques and target classification requirements for UAS detection are analyzed. A radar implementation is discussed and preliminary results presented. Overall, an X-band radar with electronic scanning capability can contribute to a reliable and affordable solution for detecting UAS-based threats.
Femtosecond stimulated emission pumping

Abstract Femtosecond stimulated emission pumping in conjunction with femtosecond photoelectron spectroscopy is used to monitor dynamics within I2−(CO2)4 following coherent vibrational excitation of the I2− chromophore. Femtosecond pump and dump pulses create an I2− wavepacket with 0.53 eV vibrational energy. Subsequent evolution of this wavepacket is monitored via its time-dependent photoelectron spectrum. At this energy, the vibrational frequency of the embedded I2− is 80 cm−1, 7 cm−1 higher than that of bare I2−. As the I2− loses energy to the CO2 molecules, the wavepacket frequency increases linearly at a rate of 3.8 cm−1/ps during the initial 3 ps of coherence. The rate of energy transfer can be determined either by this increase in vibrational frequency or by the shift of the measured photoelectron spectrum. No solvent evaporation during the first 7 ps is observed, but three CO2 molecules evaporate on a microsecond time scale.
Effector lymphocytes induce lymph node-like vasculature in tumors, which enables naïve T cell infiltration and enhanced anti-tumor immunity (TUM7P.1020)

Intratumoral lymph node (LN)-like vasculature, characterized by the expression of peripheral node addressin (PNAd) and chemokine CCL21, has been correlated with T cell infiltration and a positive prognosis in breast cancer and melanoma patients. However, the mechanisms controlling its development, and how it contributes to a beneficial outcome for cancer patients, are unknown. Here we demonstrate that LN-like PNAd + CCL21 + vasculature develops in murine models of melanoma and lung carcinoma growing in multiple anatomic locations. PNAd expression on tumor-associated endothelium and CCL21 expression by tumor-associated endothelial cells and gp38 + fibroblasts was controlled by a novel mechanism dependent on tumor infiltrating effector lymphocytes that secreted LTα 3 . In intraperitoneal (IP) tumors, CCL21 was also controlled by IFNγ. While effector CD8 T cells induced LN-like vasculature in both subcutaneous (SC) and IP tumors, NK cells only promoted its development in SC tumors. In IP but not SC tumors, LN-like vasculature was associated with organized aggregates of B-lymphocytes and gp38 + fibroblasts that resembled tertiary lymphoid organs. Importantly, this LN-like vasculature enabled the infiltration of adoptively transferred naive T cells. These T cells underwent activation and effector cell differentiation in the tumor, and significantly delayed tumor outgrowth. These results establish LN-like vasculature as both a consequence of and key contributor to anti-tumor immunity.
Legislating how critical care physicians discuss and implement do-not-resuscitate orders

A few weeks ago, Texas took an unprecedented position on unilateral DNRs by passing Senate Bill (SB) 11, which requires patient/surrogate consent for writing DNR orders. The motivation behind the bill was based on the drafters' beliefs that physicians frequently write unilateral DNR orders. SB 11, however, does not stop at requiring physicians to seek consent for DNR orders. Instead, the legislation uncharacteristically exceeds what is typically within the scope and role boundaries for lawmakers by legislating how physicians discuss and implement DNR orders. We contend that this bill is ethically problematic and will have far-reaching, negative consequences that will affect how critical care medicine is practiced. In what follows, we describe how proponents' arguments rely on several ethical assumptions, and we describe potential negative impacts stemming from this legislation. Finally, we offer an alternative approach that would mitigate proponents' concerns. We believe SB 11 and our analytic deconstruction of it should serve as "lessons learned" for other states considering similar legislation.
Latent Class Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration and Victimization among Latino Emerging Adults

While there are known developmental consequences and correlates of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization, research focused on bidirectional and multiple forms of partner violence among Latino emerging adults is needed. This longitudinal study identified latent classes of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization patterns among emerging adult Latinos (N = 1060; 60.6% female). A second aim examined acculturation and cumulative substance use correlates in high school, as predictors of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization classes in emerging adulthood. Average age of participants was 15.5 years in 10th grade and 22.7 years in emerging adulthood. We identified four distinct subgroups of intimate partner violence perpetration and victimization, with 22% of individuals identified in a violence perpetration and victimization subgroup. Cumulative heavy episodic drinking and marijuana use in high school predicted belonging to the psychological bidirectional intimate partner violence group rather than the group with no violence. Cumulative marijuana use in high school, predicted belonging to the sexual bidirectional partner violence group compared to the no violence group. Our study extends the literature across developmental periods among Latino youth. The findings have implications for early adolescent prevention strategies and promotion of healthy intimate relationships.
Newfound effect of N-acetylaspartate in preventing and reversing aggregation of amyloid-beta in vitro.

Although N-acetylaspartate (NAA) has long been recognized as the most abundant amino acid in neurons by far, its primary role has remained a mystery. Based on its unique tertiary structure, we explored the potential of NAA to modulate aggregation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide 1-42 via multiple corroborating aggregation assays along with electron microscopy. Thioflavin-T fluorescence assay demonstrated that at physiological concentrations, NAA substantially inhibited the initiation of Aβ fibril formation. In addition, NAA added after 25 min of Aβ aggregation was shown to break up preformed fibrils. Electron microscopy analysis confirmed the absence of mature fibrils following NAA treatment. Furthermore, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering measurements confirmed significant reductions in Aβ fibril hydrodynamic radius following treatment with NAA. These results suggest that physiological levels of NAA could play an important role in controlling Aβ aggregation in vivo where they are both found in the same neuronal compartments.
Endoscopic Therapy of Pouch Fistula, Septum, and Abscess

Abstract Fistula and abscess are common complications in patients who undergo restorative proctocolectomy and ileal pouch-anal anastomosis. The etiology of fistula and abscess formation can be multifactorial, mostly being associated with surgical leak, preexisting Crohn disease or de novo Crohn disease. The management of pouch-associated fistula and abscess normally requires multidisciplinary approach, involving medical, endoscopic, and surgical treatment. While pouch fistula and abscess have been traditionally treated with medical and surgical therapies, the endoscopic therapy plays a growing role thanks to the better understanding of disease process and advanced endoscopic techniques. The common endoscopic treatment modalities include fistulotomy, septectomy, incision and drainage, seton placement, and clipping.
PHOSPHORYLASE AND RELATED ENZYMES OF GLYCOGEN METABOLISM.

Publisher Summary The finding that pyridoxal phosphate is an essential constituent or coenzyme of glycogen phosphorylase created a new dimension for thought concerning the functions of vitamin B6. This chapter explores questions, such as “Did the discovery of vitamin B6 in phosphorylase stimulate avenues of approach that have led to new disclosures concerning functions of vitamin B6? Have any of the classical findings of vitamin B6 deficiency been explained as a consequence of impaired phosphorylase activity?” The chapter reviews the progress that has been made in several laboratories as to the mechanism of action of pyridoxal phosphate in phosphorylase. In view of the complex role of phosphorylase in the regulation of glycogen metabolism, the chapter focuses on the phosphorylase system. The interconversion reactions of the two forms of phosphorylase catalyzed by phosphorylase b kinase and phosphorylase phosphatase are briefly reviewed. The chapter evaluates the role of vitamin B6 in carbohydrate metabolism in general.
Pediatric obstructive sleep apnea screening questionnaire and post-operative outcomes: A prospective observational study

Abstract Introduction Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB) in children tend to be a more complex and multifactorial disease than in adults. Although adult screening tools, such as the STOP-BANG questionnaire, their application limited in pediatrics. We used our previously described 6-point questionnaire to identify OSA in children and evaluated its use for predicting post-operative respiratory events. Methods Children from 3 to 18 years of age presenting for surgery were eligible. Exclusion criteria were emergency surgery or refusal to participate. A 6-question survey regarding symptoms of OSA/SDB was administered preoperatively. Neck circumference was measured. Height and weight were recorded from preoperative data and the body mass index (BMI) percentile obtained. Results 749 patients were enrolled in the study. 707 patients were in the final analysis (359 boys and 348 girls, mean age 12 ± 4 years). The median 6-item questionnaire score was 1 (interquartile range: 0, 2) and 186 (26%) scored ≥ 2 of 6 points. Children with predicted OSA (yes on ≥ 2 questions) were more likely than without predicted OSA to require supplemental oxygen in the PACU (24% vs. 17%; 95% confidence interval [CI] of difference: −0.3%, 13%; p = 0.049). Amongst 681 patients with available data on Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS), prolonged LOS (>1 h) was not more likely among children with predicted OSA (42%) compared to those without predicted OSA (39%; 95% CI of difference: −5%, 11%; p = 0.479). Outcomes assessed after PACU discharge noted no differences. Specifically, overnight hospital stay was required in 33% of patients with predicted OSA as compared to 29% of those without (95% CI of difference: −4%, 11%; p = 0.399). On POD 0, supplemental oxygen was used on the inpatient ward for 6% of patients with predicted OSA compared to 4% of patients without predicted OSA (95% CI of difference: −2%, 6%; p = 0.272). Conclusion The incidence of OSA/SDB is under-appreciated in children presenting for non-otolaryngological surgical procedures. Although patients judged to have OSA on the 6-item question may need for supplemental oxygen longer in the PACU, no other outcomes differences were noted.
An Applied Alternative with Emphasis on Local Environmental Issues to a Traditional Term Paper for Environmental Geology Classes

Every year several hundred non-geology majors, mostly juniors and seniors, take our Environmental Geology classes (Geology 300) to meet their Upper Division General Education course requirements. In order to encourage environmental curiosity and personal responsibility, in lieu of a traditional term-paper, a 30-page homework packet, which is based on ongoing environmental issues and realistic data, has been developed. The packet was initiated in the spring semester of 2002 and has been revised several times to reflect top environmental issues, the course's general requirements/expectations, students' writing and mathematical skills and their general environmental background knowledge. Through the assessment of this newly developed packet, although more than half of the students surveyed (58.8%) indicated that the packet is more challenging than doing a traditional term paper and some had difficulties with mathematical sections of the packet, 88.7% of those surveyed recommended the continuation of the pack...
Stigma matters: An African American psychology professor comes out of the mental illness closet.

The debilitating stigma of mental illness is present in psychologists, psychology departments, and in the larger higher education environment. My reflections on my experience as an African American psychology professor living with bipolar disorder can shed light on how stigma can prevent colleagues from intervening and providing much-needed support to a colleague in crisis. I summarize the history of my struggle with mental illness and with the decision to write about it. I emphasize the importance of vigilance with respect to the fact that changes in medication can rapidly and radically impact one's mood and behavior. My insights as a prosumer can inform administrators, staff, and faculty as they develop policies and practices to assist employees with mental health concerns, which should include providing trusted colleagues with permission to contact a spouse, friend, therapist, and/or family member in the event of a change in behavior. The aim is reduced stigma, greater authenticity on the part of the person living with mental illness, and early intervention, similar to the response one would expect to a heart attack, to interrupt or prevent a prolonged episode of psychological distress. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
RONC-31. ADVANCED ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY WITH MYOCARDIAL-STRAIN-ANALYSIS DESCRIBES SUBCLINICAL CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION AFTER CRANIOSPINAL IRRADIATION (CSI) IN PEDIATRIC AND YOUNG ADULT PATIENTS WITH CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) TUMORS

CSI is part of the treatment of CNS tumors and is associated with cardiovascular disease; data in pediatric/young-adult patients are limited. Myocardial-strain-analysis can reveal subclinical dysfunction. Retrospective, single-center study in CNS tumor patients managed with CSI from 1986–2018. Clinical details, and echocardiography including myocardial-strain-analysis were collected at T1=first echocardiogram after CSI, and T2=most recent echocardiogram. Data are mean±standard deviation. Echocardiograms were available in 44 patients (36%female, 14±8.0years) at T1 and 39 patients (38%female, 21.0±11.3years) at T2. Standard echocardiography was normal for all subjects. At T1, global longitudinal peak systolic strain (GLS) was -16.3%±3.7% in CSI vs. -21.6%±3.5% in controls (p 0.95); GRS was 5.5±9.5% (p<0.05); GCS was -3.4±4.9% (p<0.05). Subclinical dysfunction is present at first echocardiogram after CSI. Myocardial impairment may recover with time, however further analysis is needed to identify risk factors and trends. These results argue for inclusion of baseline cardiovascular assessment and longitudinal follow-up in CNS tumor patients post CSI.
The Face of Clostriodes Difficile Infections in the Outpatient Setting

# BACKGROUND It has long been well-established that Clostridiodes difficile infections (CDI) can cause severe morbidity and mortality. However, most of the literature to date has focused on hospital-diagnosed infections with less emphasis on clinic-based CDI cases. Guidelines from the 2010 IDSA/SHEA for CDI advocate for metronidazole as first-line therapy for mild to moderate CDI cases. However, the 2017 guidelines recommend oral vancomycin or fidaxomicin as first-line therapy due to their superior efficacy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare Clostriodes difficile infections in convenience samples of clinic vs. hospital patients. # METHODS In 2019, a retrospective, case-controlled study was performed by the first six authors between 2015-2017 (i.e., prior to the 2017 IDSA/SHEA CDI guidelines) to compare ambulatory and hospital CDI treatment prescriptions. Analytic data included frequency of White blood cells (WBC) and creatinine collection, frequency of severe CDI cases, compliance with the 2010 guidelines, CDI recurrence, and mortality. # RESULTS An eligible subgroup of N = 92 hospital patients at Spectrum Health Lakeland were more likely to have WBC (98.4% vs 32.6%, p<0.001) and creatinine (97.8 vs. 39.4, P < 0.001) drawn than 184 patients receiving clinic-based care. Hospital sampled patients were more likely to have severe CDI (46.7% vs 6.7%, p < 0.001). Mortality was less common in hospital patients (1.1% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.017) and the recurrence rates were similar. (21.2% inpatient vs. 28.3% outpatient, (p = 0.224). # CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, assessment of CDI severity remains limited in the ambulatory population due to the lack of severity markers. It is unclear if this is due to lack of available laboratory resources or difference in clinical presentation. Of those sample patients who have available markers of severity, patients receiving clinic-based diagnoses were less likely assessed to have severe CDI. Keywords: Cloistriodes difficile infection, ambulatory, severity markers
The Role of After-School Digital Media Clubs in Closing Participation Gaps and Expanding Social Capital

his article considers how after-school digital media clubs, as an example of informal learning, can provide meaningful opportunities for youth to participate in the creation of interest-driven learning ecologies through media production. Ethnographic research was conducted in two after-school digital media clubs at a large, ethnically diverse, low income public high school over the course of an academic year. The after-school clubs provided students with opportunities to develop digital literacies that could be leveraged for the acquisition of cultural and social capital. Although participation in the clubs expanded students’ offline social networks, restrictive school policies blocked access to social media and video sharing sites. Students were unlikely to share their work online and missed opportunities to develop network literacies that are crucial to more equitable modes of online participation.
Hospital encounters for pediatric ingestions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dear Editor,According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been greater than 30 million confirmed cases from COVID-19 in the US as of April 2021. Widespread socia...
Prospective Associations of Pain Intensity and Substance Use in the United States Population: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis.

Objective: Pain is associated with increased risk for harmful substance use. Substance use also may increase levels of pain, suggesting that these two factors may reciprocally increase risk. The cu...
Seismic behavior of SMA–FRP reinforced concrete frames under sequential seismic hazard

Abstract Accumulation of plastic deformation under excessive loads, is one of the most critical drawbacks in steel reinforced concrete structures. Permanent plastic deformation of steel rebars is among the main reasons for the disruption of the functionality of RC structures after major seismic events. It can also pose life threatening risks in case of strong aftershock occurrence. In an attempt to address the problem of excessive permanent deformations and their impact on the post-earthquake functionality of concrete moment resisting frame (MRF) structures, this paper studies analytically a new type of reinforcing bars made of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) with embedded superelastic shape memory alloy (SMA) fibers. SMA–FRP reinforcement is characterized with both ductility and pseudo-elasticity which are two important characteristics that are sough in this study to enhance the ability of RC moment frames to withstand strong sequential ground motions (i.e. main shock followed by one or more aftershocks). In this study, experimentally validated SMA–FRP material models are used in structural level models to assess the performance of RC frame structures under seismic loading. Three-story, one-bay prototype RC MRFs, reinforced with steel and SMA–FRP composite reinforcements are first designed using performance based criteria and then subjected to incremental dynamic analysis under sequential ground motions. Comparison is drawn between steel and SMA–FRP reinforced frames based on accumulation of damage and residual drifts. Numerical results show superior performance of SMA–FRP composite reinforced MRF in terms of dissipation of energy and accumulation of lower residual drifts. Increased demands from the effects of aftershock causes accumulation of residual drifts in steel reinforced frames which is mitigated in SMA–FRP reinforced frame through re-centering capability.
Duality of cerebellar motor and cognitive functions.

This chapter develops a specific perspective regarding the interrelation- ship of the cerebellum, motor behaviors, and cognitive processes. The advent of the proposals regarding the cerebellum and cognition has challenged many investigators to examine this issue aggressively and to address the extent to which current concepts, definitions, and experimental approaches are adequate for deriving new insights into the interfaces between the domains of motor execution and adaptive modifications in behavior. This chapter contends that the dichotomy often made between motor processes and cognitive processes is inconsistent with the organization of behaviors in general and that, when a broader, more integrative view is adopted, a role of the cerebellum in “cognitive” processes is not only expected but also necessary given this structure's contribution to motor coordination and behavioral adaptations.
Electrocardiography of Clinical Arrhythmias

Charles Fisch and Suzanne B. Knoebel 407 pp. Armonk, NY: Futura Publishing Company; 2000. $49.00. ISBN 0-87993-446-8 This 18-chapter book by veteran teachers of electrocardiography is a must-have for physicians eager to have a more comprehensive understanding of the electrocardiography of cardiac arrhythmias. A brief preface …
Bienyeme-Galton-Watson Branching Process†

The study of the growth and development of many species of animals, plants and other organisms over time may be approached in the following manner. At some point in time a set of individuals called ancestors or the zeroth generation is identified. These produce offspring and the collection of offspring of all the ancestors constitutes the first generation. The offspring of these first generation individuals constitute the second generation and so on. If one specifies the rules by which the offspring production takes place then one could study the behavior of the long time evolution of such a process, called a branching process. Questions of interest are the long term survival of such a process or its extinction, the growth rate of such a population, fluctuation of population sizes, effects of control mechanicisms etc. In this article several simple mathematical models and some results for these will be discussed. Many of the assumptions made, especially the one about independence of lines of descent, are somewhat idealistic and unrealistic. Nevertheless, the models do prove useful in answering some general questions, since many results about long term behavior deviate somewhat from the basic assumptions.
Harnessing the Private Attorney General: Evidence from Qui Tam Litigation

What role do expertise and specialization play in regulatory regimes that deploy private litigation as an enforcement tool? This question is of enormous practical importance to the optimal design of law enforcement across a range of regulatory areas, from securities and antitrust to environmental protection and civil rights. Yet it has generated surprisingly little rigorous empirical analysis. This Article begins to fill that gap by offering the first large-scale empirical study of a growing and increasingly controversial litigation regime in which debate about the role of specialized private enforcers has taken center stage: qui tam lawsuits brought under the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Using an original data set of more than 4,000 qui tam suits filed between 1986 and 2011, this Article tests, and mostly rejects, a pair of what might be called “supply-side” critiques of the regime: first, that qui tam litigation is inefficiently dominated by a growing cadre of repeat, “professional” plaintiffs; and second, that qui tam’s explosive growth and seeming excesses can be attributed to an increasingly specialized qui tam plaintiffs’ bar. The findings demonstrate that, contrary to a chorus of critics, specialized relator-side firms appear to play a positive role in the system, enjoying higher litigation success rates and surfacing larger frauds than less experienced firms. Similarly, while repeat relators win less often than one-shotters, they offset lower win rates by obtaining substantially larger recoveries when they succeed. These findings offer a much-needed empirical baseline for evaluating legal and policy debate around the FCA as well as leading proposals for its reform. More broadly, exploring the role of expertise and specialization in a specific, microinstitutional context such as qui tam is a first step to developing a thicker and more systematic account of the possibilities and limits of private enforcement of public law.
Clinical and Psychosocial Profiles of Asian Immigrants Who Repeatedly Attempt Suicide: A Mixed-Method Study of Risk and Protective Factors.

Abstract. Background: Persons who repeatedly attempt suicide comprise a highly distressed population that warrants the understanding of risk and protective factors in assessment and treatment. There is a dearth of literature on Asian immigrants’ suicidal behavior. Aims: The study aimed to capture the clinical and psychosocial profiles of Asian immigrants who made repeated suicide attempts. Method: We utilized retrospective chart reviews (n = 44) and in-person interviews (n = 12) in two urban public hospitals. Results: The study samples shared major suicide risk factors identified in studies of other populations. Participants of the interview sample suffered from a pervasive sense of hopelessness stemming from social isolation, self-stigma, feelings of failure in their life roles, and perceptions of rejection by their families. Conversely, psychological well-being – feeling cared for and able to reciprocate care for others – appeared to be a protective factor for participants who improved in their function...
Validity, Reliability, and Equity Issues in an Observational Talent Assessment Process in the Performing Arts

The lack of valid, research-based methods to identify potential artistic talent hampers the inclusion of the arts in programs for the gifted and talented. The Talent Assessment Process in Dance, Music, and Theater (D/M/T TAP) was designed to identify potential performing arts talent in diverse populations, including bilingual and special education students and students who have had no prior formal arts instruction. Research results over 13 years in elementary schools in New York and Ohio provide evidence that creative and artistic potential can be assessed validly and equitably and that such assessments can offer a reliable prediction of success in rigorous arts instruction.
Structure of the Amodiaquine−FPIX μ Oxo Dimer Solution Complex at Atomic Resolution

Using NMR inversion recovery experiments and XPLOR distance restraint calculations, we recently deduced the structure of ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FPIX) heme μ oxo dimer−antimalarial drug complexes for chloroquine (CQ), quinine (QN), and quinidine (QD) at atomic resolution [A. Leed et al., Biochemistry 2002, 41, 10245−55]. Using similar methods, we now report an unexpected structure for the complex formed between FPIX and the related drug amodiaquine (AQ). The deduced structure is further supported by comparing AQ chemical-shift data to restricted Hartree−Fock calculations. The structure further highlights the critical nature of quinoline drug side-chain composition in stabilizing noncovalent association to FPIX. Heme Fe−AQ proton distances are longer, relative to those of the CQ complex, and the AQ aromatic side chain seems to have a significant role in stabilizing the complex. Relative to the FPIX−CQ complex, a similar 2:1 stoichiometry was determined for the AQ complex, in contrast to a 4:1 stoichiometry...
Constructing Success and Failure: Age Differences in Perceptions and Explanations of Success and Failure

Age differences in attributions for self-reported successes and failures in both important and daily situations were examined. Sixty-one young adults (M age = 19.2), twenty-one middle-aged adults (M age = 45), and fifteen older adults (M age = 71.4) gave attributions and affects for self-chosen situations, which were classified as social or nonsocial. The attributions and affects were coded according to Blank's scheme with attributions dichotomized into internal and external, and stable and unstable [1]. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than young adults to attribute failure to external causes and to describe more social than nonsocial situations. Consistent age differences in attributional stability were not found nor were there age differences in attributional internality for success outcomes.
SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS OF CIRCUMFERENTIAL SYSTOLIC CAROTID ARTERIAL STRAIN IN DIABETICS AND HYPERTENSIVES USING 2D SPECKLE TRACKING

Results: Baseline characteristics were similar among groups except heart rate and hypertension (Table). Mean far wall and global CAS were lower in diabetics and hypertensives than in controls. There was no difference between diabetics and hypertensives (Table). When pooled (n=61), age, heart rate and hypertension were predictors of low global net (p=0.001, p=0.02, p=0.02, respectively) and mean far wall CAS (p=0.02 for all 3 variables). Though small (n=5), CAS in non-hypertensive diabetics was similar to hypertensive diabetics. Conventional lumen CAS was similar among all groups.
Experimental Investigations of Annular Liquid Curtains

Experiments have been performed to study the dynamics of vertical annular liquid curtains. Using a high and a low speed photographic recording technique, different modes of curtain formation have been visualized: (a) nonpressurized curtain, (b) pressurized steady curtain, (c) pressurized oscillating curtain, and (d) punctured curtain. The velocity of the liquid was measured by an argon-ion laser Doppler velocimeter, and results were compared with free falling motion. The convergence length of the curtain was measured as a function of the pressure differential for different Froude and Weber numbers, and for different nozzle gap widths. The experimental data agree well with existing theoretical predictions for steady curtains. For harmonically oscillating curtains, the average values of minimum and maximum convergence lengths show fairly good agreement with the theory.
Computational aspects of performance-adaptive self-organizing control algorithms

Sevaral algorithms appear scattered throughout the current literature which treat, in one form or another, problems which may be loosely categorized as belonging to the discipline of performance-adaptive self-organizing control. The need arises, therefore, to determine the usefulness of these algorithms to problems of interest and to ascertain in some way the advantages and shortcomings of the various available schemes. To this end the work presented here is part of an investigation made into the computational aspects of performance-adaptive self-organizing control algorithms. The investigation appeared in the form of a critical evaluation and comparison of the various methods relative to common qualitative and quantitative criteria. From the results of these evaluations and comparisons, conclusions were drawn concerning the relative merit of each scheme. The results of the application of several self-organizing schemes for one particular example, a non-linear heat treatment process, are presented here.
Aging effect on the noradrenaline content of rat brain microvessels.

Abstract Microvessels were isolated by sucrose gradient centrifugation and molecular seiving from forebrains of aged and young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. Determination of noradrenaline levels in preparations obtained from both groups of animals indicated that the level of NA in cerebral microvessels isolated from aged animals (120 ± 28 pg NA/mg protein) was significantly reduced when compared with the corresponding value from control (young adult) animals (226 ± 35 pg NA/mg protein). This decrease in NA may indicate a deficiency in the neural control of the microcirculation and predispose to metabolic and functional disturbances of brain tissue.