cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
β-Hexosaminidase, Acetaldehyde–Protein Adducts, and Dolichol as Alcohol Biomarkers

Hexoaminidase, also known as N-acetyl glucosaminidase, is a lysosomal enzyme found in most body tissues, especially the kidneys, where concentrations are even higher than in other tissues. Total serum β-hexosaminidase activity, particularly β-hexosaminidase B isoform (β-Hex B) activity, as well as total urinary β-hexosaminidase activity, is increased in alcoholics compared to moderate drinkers and nondrinkers. Sialic acids are a family of 36 naturally occurring acetylated derivatives of neuraminic acid that are found in the carbohydrate chains of glycoprotein in some biological fluids such as blood and cell membranes. The most abundant sialic acid is N-acetylneuraminic acid. Total sialic acid can also be used as an alcohol biomarker. Acetaldehyde is the first degradation product of alcohol formed by the metabolism of alcohol in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde, being highly reactive, also rapidly forms stable adducts with a number of compounds, including proteins such as albumin (the most abundant protein in the blood) and hemoglobin. These adducts are found mostly in chronic heavy consumers of alcohol because acetaldehyde levels are more significantly elevated in these individuals than in moderate or social drinkers. Hemoglobin–acetaldehyde adduct has received increasingly greater attention in the scientific community as a biomarker of alcohol abuse.
Neuroimaging in Evaluation of Migraine Headache

The utility of neuroimaging in the evaluation of children with migraine and chronic daily headache, with normal neurologic examination, was determined by a retrospective review of 302 patients, aged between 6 and 18 years, seen in the Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Children’s Hospital, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, 1997-1999.
Interactive visualization for testing Markov Decision Processes

Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) are a formulation for optimization problems in sequential decision making. Solving MDPs often requires implementing a simulator for optimization algorithms to invoke when updating decision making rules known as policies. The combination of simulator and optimizer are subject to failures of specification, implementation, integration, and optimization that may produce invalid policies. We present these failures as queries for a visual analytic system (MDPVIS). MDPVIS addresses three visualization research gaps. First, the data acquisition gap is addressed through a general simulator-visualization interface. Second, the data analysis gap is addressed through a generalized MDP information visualization. Finally, the cognition gap is addressed by exposing model components to the user. MDPVIS generalizes a visualization for wildfire management. We use that problem to illustrate MDPVIS and show the visualization's generality by connecting it to two reinforcement learning frameworks that implement many different MDPs of interest in the research community. HighlightsMarkov decision processes (MDPs) formalize sequential decision optimization problems.Complex simulators often implement MDPs and are subject to a variety of bugs.Interactive visualizations support testing MDPs and optimization algorithms.The first visualization targeting MDP testing, MDPvis, is presented.
Defining uncertainty and error in planktic foraminiferal oxygen isotope measurements

Foraminifera are the backbone of paleoceanography. Planktic foraminifera are one of the leading tools for reconstructing water column structure. However, there are unconstrained variables when dealing with uncertainty in the reproducibility of oxygen isotope measurements. This study presents the first results from a simple model of foraminiferal calcification (Foraminiferal Isotope Reproducibility Model; FIRM), designed to estimate uncertainty in oxygen isotope measurements. FIRM uses parameters including location, depth habitat, season, number of individuals included in measurement, diagenesis, misidentification, size variation, and vital effects, to produce synthetic isotope data in a manner reflecting natural processes. Reproducibility is then tested using Monte Carlo simulations. Importantly, this is not an attempt to fully model the entire complicated process of foraminiferal calcification; instead we are trying to include only enough parameters to estimate the uncertainty in foraminiferal δ18O records. Two well-constrained empirical datasets are simulated successfully, demonstrating the validity of our model. The results from a series of experiments with the model show that reproducibility is largely controlled by the number of individuals in each measurement, but also strongly a function of local oceanography, if the number of individuals is held constant. Parameters like diagenesis or misidentification have an impact on both the precision and the accuracy of the data. FIRM is a tool to estimate isotopic uncertainty values and to explore the impact of myriad factors on the fidelity of paleoceanographic records, particularly for the Holocene.
Suppression of the Drosophila cellular immune response by Ganaspis xanthopoda.

The cellular immune response of larvae of Drosophila melanogaster is mediated by two types of hemocyte. Plasmatocytes are small, round, and phagocytic hemocytes that engulf small particles, such as bacteria. When large objects, such as eggs of parasitoid wasps, are introduced into the larval hemocoel, plasmatocytes differentiate into larger, flat, and adhesive lamellocytes. Lamellocytes adhere to one another and wrap around the foreign body, forming capsules. These capsules are often melanized by the second type of hemocyte, called crystal cells, which house enzymes for melanization reactions (Rizki and Rizki, 1984). The capsules render the parasite inert and allow the host to survive. In the larva, plasmatocytes and crystal cells originate in the lymph gland, which is the hematopoietic organ in Drosophila. (Shrestha and Gateff, 1982).
Environmental implications of higher ethanol production and use in the U.S.: A literature review. Part I – Impacts on water, soil, and air quality

Abstract To address issues of energy security and greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, substantial amounts of corn-derived ethanol are used in U.S. gasoline. Currently, ethanol comprises 10% of the U.S. gasoline pool (E10), but there is interest in increasing this – possibly doubling the amount currently used. Production of corn ethanol raises several concerns with respect to environmental and ecological impacts. This paper reviews the available literature regarding the impacts on water, soil, and air quality. A companion paper addresses issues of biodiversity, ecosystems, land use change, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and sustainability. We emphasize recent information appearing since comprehensive reports on this topic were issued by the U.S. EPA and NRC/NAS in 2011. The principal environmental concerns arise from the intensive agricultural activities associated with corn cropping. Nutrient runoff contributes to eutrophication, algal growth, and hypoxia in downstream water bodies; in addition to elevated nitrate pollutant levels in drinking water sources. Water requirements of corn ethanol vary by over 2-orders of magnitude among corn-growing states, depending upon the amount of irrigation used. Significant increases in corn production would likely involve expansion into areas requiring more intensive irrigation. Expansion into Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands raises concerns about increased erosion, deterioration of soil quality, loss of biodiversity, and reduction of ecosystem services. Largely because of energy-intensive agricultural activities (including fertilizer production), upstream emissions of most air pollutants of concern are considerably higher for corn ethanol compared to gasoline. Current fuel ethanol levels do not provide any benefit with respect to ground level ozone, and this is unlikely to change with use of E20. However, externalities associated with life-cycle emissions (such as eutrophication, acidification, health effects, etc.) are greater – and more costly – for corn ethanol compared to gasoline. Such externalities are expected to worsen in moving from E10 to E20 fuels.
Fabrication of self-assembling nanofibers with optimal cell uptake and therapeutic delivery efficacy.

Abstract Effective strategies to fabricate finite organic nanoparticles and understanding their structure-dependent cell interaction is highly important for the development of long circulating nanocarriers in cancer therapy. In this contribution, we will capitalize on our recent development of finite supramolecular nanofibers based on the self-assembly of modularly designed cationic multidomain peptides (MDPs) and use them as a model system to investigate structure-dependent cell penetrating activity. MDPs self-assembled into nanofibers with high density of cationic charges at the fiber-solvent interface to interact with the cell membrane. However, despite the multivalent charge presentation, not all fibers led to high levels of membrane activity and cellular uptake. The flexibility of the cationic charge domains on self-assembled nanofibers plays a key role in effective membrane perturbation. Nanofibers were found to sacrifice their dimension, thermodynamic and kinetic stability for a more flexible charge domain in order to achieve effective membrane interaction. The increased membrane activity led to improved cell uptake of membrane-impermeable chemotherapeutics through membrane pore formation. In vitro cytotoxicity study showed co-administering of water-soluble doxorubicin with membrane-active peptide nanofibers dramatically reduced the IC50 by eight folds compared to drug alone. Through these detailed structure and activity studies, the acquired knowledge will provide important guidelines for the design of a variety of supramolecular cell penetrating nanomaterials not limited to peptide assembly which can be used to probe various complex biological processes.
The use of pain neuroscience education in older adults with chronic back and/or lower extremity pain.

Introduction: Chronic pain due to musculoskeletal disorders is the leading cause of disability among older adults and is associated with a lower quality of life, reduced function, and increased risk of institutionalization. Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing pain and improving pain self-efficacy in individuals under 60 years of age, but there is a paucity of research examining its use with older adults. If PNE has similar effects in older adults, it has the potential to be a useful non-pharmacological intervention for this population. Methods: This quasi-experimental feasibility study included 25 subjects over the age of 65 with a 3 month or greater history of lower back and/or lower extremity pain. Subjects participated in two semi-standardized one-on-one PNE sessions and were asked to read a booklet (Why Do I Hurt, Louw, International Spine and Pain Institute, USA) in between sessions. Subjects' perception of PNE was measured after the second session and gait speed, pain disability, and fear of movement were measured pre- and post-PNE. Results: Subjects consistently reported a positive experience with PNE. There were statically significant positive improvements in gait speed, pain disability, and fear of movement after the intervention. Conclusion: PNE is a feasible and potentially efficacious treatment for older adults with chronic pain.
Superacid-promoted synthesis of indolizidine derivatives

Abstract A series of amido-acetals were reacted with the Bronsted superacid, CF3SO3H, to provides indolizidine derives by a cyclization cascade. A mechanism is proposed involving formation of a vinylogous enol which undergoes a 6π-electrocyclization reaction with an adjacent N-acyl iminium ion group. With aryl substituents, there is a strong tendency for the N-acyl iminium ion group to undergo Friedel-Crafts type cyclizations with the aryl group. The synthetic methodology was used to prepare the alkaloid natural product, ipalbidine.
Environmental Decision Making Involving Multiple Stakeholders

The management of environmental programs often involves several stakeholders with diverse, and often conflicting, concerns. In the United States, the National Research Council has recommended the use of an analytic/deliberative decision-making process for environmental restoration decisions that involve multiple stakeholders. This work implements this process by using the results of risk assessment and multiattribute utility analysis for each stakeholder to guide the deliberation. Based on the preferences of each stakeholder as revealed by the analysis, a number of proposals are prepared for consideration by the stakeholders during the deliberation. These proposals are the starting point for the formulation of actual recommendations by the group. In our case study, these recommendations included new remedial action alternatives that were created by the stakeholders after an extensive discussion of the detailed analytical results.
Orthopedic Disorders in Patients with Down's Syndrome

We have contrasted 161 patients with Down's syndrome admitted to three acute care centers with 107 patients in an institutional setting, outlining their major orthopedic problems and suggesting methods of management based on acute care experience. Severe hallux valgus, metatarsus primus varus, subluxation an dislocation of the patella, severe pes planus, atlantoaxial subluxation, femoral head epiphysiolysis, and dislocation or subluxation of the hips remain the most critical problems against a background of other less common orthopedic abnormalities.
Central mechanisms controlling expiratory duration.

One of the major problems in the study of respiratory rhythm is the nature of the mechanisms which produce the abrupt transitions (phase-switching) between the expiratory (E) and inspiratory (I) phases, and which are closely related to the mechanisms determining the durations of the respective phases. In recent years, the attention of researchers has been focussed mainly on the mechanisms of I --> E switching and the control of I phase duration (TI), especially with regard to the role of pulmonary afferents (PA) in the Breuer-Hering I-inhibitory reflex1–8. The analogous problem of the nature of the mechanisms controlling E --> I switching and E phase duration (TE) has been studied to a lesser extent; in the present paper we present some data and hypotheses relevant to this problem.
Modelling for Parallel Optimization

As a result of the development of both research and commercial multiprocessors and multi-computers capable of implementing parallel algorithms for optimization, there has been a renewed interest in both theoretical and computational aspects of such techniques. From a modelling viewpoint, it becomes important to formulate the problem in such a manner that it can be decomposed into quasi-independent subproblems that are suited to the computer architecture on which it will be solved. One key issue in this regard is the granularity of the computation, i.e. the sizes of the ‘pieces’ that will be dealt with in parallel. For example, in a traffic assignment problem, one has the option of defining commodities (and hence subproblems) by origin-destination pair og by origin. The latter approach is less traditional, but gives rise to larger sub-problems that are better suited to a computing environment in which communication between processors is relatively expensive. Thus, one method of dealing with granularity is to seek to modify an existing model in such a way as to facilitate the decomposition of the problem into subproblems of appropriate size. A related issue is whether one will initialize the decomposition process by using intrinsic structures available a priori from the model (such as commodities or time periods) or exploit the previous solution of a related problem (which may, for example, allow a tentative geographic decomposition of the area covered by the model), or employ a heuristic splitting procedure based on the current problem data and then dynamically modify the structure of the decomposition as needed during the course of the solution process. It is clear that in order to reduce the amount of information exchange and to accelerate the solution process, it is desirable to partition the model in a manner that is suited to the machine architecture and reflects as much as possible a partition related to an optimal solution. These topics will be addressed in the context of research on large-scale nonlinear and generalized networks. We will describe computational experience with two parallel computing systems at the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin: the CRYSTAL multicomputer, a loosely-coupled token-ring network of 20 VAX 11/750’s, and the Sequent Balance 21000, a commercial shared-memory multiprocessor with 8 processors.
U.S. Citizens’ Current Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration: A Study From the General Social Survey*

Objective This study tests U.S. citizens’ attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Immigrants and immigration educe strong, divergent sentiments in the U.S. population. While these sentiments, which are tied to public policy, have been examined in prior studies, it is important to test them regularly in empirical studies to observe any changes in attitudes toward immigrants and immigration. Methods I rely on the 2014 General Social Survey and employ hierarchical multivariate regression models to test the effects of patriotism, nationalism, xenophobia, and “world citizenship” on pro‐immigration attitudes. Results Females, respondents with higher education, and respondents who were more patriotic were more likely to hold pro‐immigration attitudes. Conversely, older respondents and respondents who held greater xenophobic attitudes were less likely to hold pro‐immigration attitudes. Finally, respondents who viewed themselves more as citizens of the world than citizens of a particular country were more likely to hold pro‐immigration attitudes. Conclusion The study's results are generally consistent with findings from prior research, and point to a general invariability in Americans’ views about immigrants and immigration. The policy implications of the findings are discussed.
The Chaplin machine: slapstick, Fordism and the communist avant-garde

In an era when the fetish of economic efficiency in both labour and culture has become perhaps the defining feature of the neo-liberal world in which we now live, Owen Hatherley’s most recent book ...
High microscale variability in Raman thermal maturity estimates from shale organic matter

Abstract Raman spectroscopy has recently received attention as a means to estimate thermal maturity of organic matter in petroleum generating source rocks to complement more traditional approaches such as vitrinite reflectance and programmed pyrolysis. While many studies have observed positive correlations between source rock thermal maturity and Raman spectral parameters, little attention has been given to the degree of variation in the Raman response across individual organic grains, especially for shales or mudrocks with highly dispersed organic matter. Here the spatial variation in Raman estimates of thermal maturity within individual organic grains is assessed from shales from the Boquillas, Marcellus, Niobrara, and Woodford Formations. The thermal maturity parameters extracted from Raman spectra can vary widely across distances of ≤5 μm within the same organic grain. These results illustrate the high degree of chemical heterogeneity inherent to the organic matter within these source rocks. Additionally, the spatial pattern of the Raman parameters, as revealed by 2D Raman mapping, imply that organic matter structure is influenced by associations with mineral surfaces within the surrounding rock matrix. Chemical heterogeneity and matrix effects directly impact the Raman response from these types of materials and thus the extracted thermal maturity estimate. These findings highlight the care which must be adopted when making Raman measurements of organic matter within source rock matrices, especially for samples which feature highly dispersed, heterogeneous organic matter as found in petroliferous mudrocks.
Evidentialism: A Primer

This brief chapter provides a general overview of evidentialism by explaining evidentialism’s most fundamental claim about epistemic justification, that such justification supervenes on an agent’s evidence. Additionally, the chapter explains that evidentialism requires more clarification and detailing. Finally, short summaries of the other chapters included in this book are provided in this chapter.
Determination of mammalian DNA in commercial canine diets with uncommon and limited ingredients

Over-the-counter (OTC) limited ingredient canine diets could be reliable alternatives to veterinary therapeutic formulations for the diagnosis and management of adverse food reaction (AFR). However, the possibility of undeclared ingredients jeopardizes the efficacious use of OTC options for medical purposes. The objective was to determine the presence of undeclared ingredients in OTC canine dry diets marketed as limited or single protein source diets. Twenty-one OTC adult canine diets marketed as limited or single protein source diets were purchased. Multiplex PCR was used to screen for DNA of 10 mammalian species with species-specific primers that anneal to regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The presence of DNA from one or more species not declared on the label was identified in all 21 diets: cow (Bos taurus), pig (Sus scrofa), sheep (Ovis sp.), goat (Capra hircus) and bison (Bison bison). Twenty diets were positive for the declared protein source and one diet was negative for the declared species. Cat (Felis catus), dog (Canis sp.), horse (Equus sp.), mouse (Mus musculus) and rat (Rattus norvegicus) DNA was not identified in any samples. The presence of undeclared mammal species in OTC canine dry diets marketed as having limited or single protein source ingredients may complicate AFR diagnosis and treatment. However, PCR can detect a miniscule amount of DNA which might not be clinically significant, because the amount needed to elicit a response is unknown. Quantification of the contamination was not determined in this study, precluding discrimination of intentional adulteration from unavoidable cross-contamination.
Mecp2 Disruption in Rats Causes Reshaping in Firing Activity and Patterns of Brainstem Respiratory Neurons.

Abstract People with Rett Syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the MECP2 gene, have breathing abnormalities manifested as periodical hypoventilation with compensatory hyperventilation, which are attributable to a high incidence of sudden death. Similar breathing abnormalities have been found in animal models with Mecp2 disruptions. Although RTT-type hypoventilation is believed to be due to depressed central inspiratory activity, whether this is true remains unknown. Here we show evidence for reshaping in firing activity and patterns of medullary respiratory neurons in RTT-type hypoventilation without evident depression in inspiratory neuronal activity. Experiments were performed in decerebrate rats in vivo. In Mecp2-null rats, abnormalities in breathing patterns were apparent in both decerebrate rats and awake animals, suggesting that RTT-type breathing abnormalities take place in the brainstem without forebrain input. In comparison to their wild-type counterparts, both inspiratory and expiratory neurons in Mecp2-null rats extended their firing duration, and fired more action potentials during each burst. No changes in inspiratory or expiratory neuronal distributions were found. Most inspiratory neurons started firing in the middle of expiration and changed their firing pattern to a phase-spanning type. The proportion of post-inspiratory neurons was reduced in the Mecp2-null rats. With the increased firing activity of both inspiratory and expiratory neurons in null rats, phrenic discharges shifted to a slow and deep breathing pattern. Thus, the RTT-type hypoventilation appears to result from reshaping of firing activity of both inspiratory and expiratory neurons without evident depression in central inspiratory activity.
Chapter 22 – Validation of liquid chromatographic methods

Method validation experiments are intended to demonstrate that an analytical method will yield acceptable method performance. Several guidelines outlining the requirements for method validation are available; numerous literature articles demonstrating how to perform liquid chromatography (LC) method validation according to these guidelines are also available. Although traditional validation experiments provide useful information about method characteristics, they represent a single event that may not predict the future performance of the method. In this chapter, traditional method validation guidelines and the associated method characteristics are discussed. In addition, recent approaches that incorporate risk and a more rigorous assessment of method variability are also briefly described.
Active older adults in adventure education: how their experiences can influence outdoor adventure education program opportunities

By 2029, 20% of the U.S. population will be ≥65-years-old. American demographics are changing, understanding of the ≥65-year-old demographic has not. We investigated expectation variables of partic...
Proinflammatory polarization of stifle synovial macrophages in dogs with cruciate ligament rupture.

OBJECTIVE: To determine polarization of synovial macrophages during development of cruciate ligament rupture (CR) and determine whether differences in synovial macrophage polarization in CR, osteoarthritis (OA), and healthy joints exist. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case‐controlled study. ANIMALS: Client‐owned dogs with unstable stifles with CR (n = 22), paired stable contralateral stifles with partial CR (pCR; n = 7), joints with OA not related to CR (n = 6), and clinically normal (Normal; n = 7) joints. METHODS: Synovial fluid samples were collected. Smears were made for differential cytology counts and estimated total nucleated cell counts. Cytospin preparations were made, and immunocytochemical staining was performed with the pan‐macrophage marker CD68, M1 macrophage markers inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and chemokine (C‐C motif) receptor 7 (CCR7), and M2 macrophage markers arginase 1 and CD163. Positively stained cells were counted. RESULTS: Numbers of lymphocytes were increased in the CR group compared with the OA and Normal groups (P < .05). Numbers of CD68⁺, CCR7⁺, and iNOS⁺ cells in the CR and OA groups were increased compared with the Normal group (P < .05). Globally, the ratio of positively stained M1 polarized CD68⁺ cells to M2 polarized CD68⁺ cells was highest for the OA group (2.49), followed by the pCR (2.1), CR (1.63), and Normal (0.7) groups. CONCLUSION: Polarization of synovial macrophages toward an M1 proinflammatory phenotype is an early event in the development of canine CR. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: M1 polarization in pCR stifles provides evidence of a possible role for macrophages in progressive development of cruciate ligament fiber damage. Lymphocytes may play a role in the synovitis found in CR joints. Our findings provide evidence that these cells are therapeutic targets.
Die Untersuchung des Diskurses um den Rechtsextremismus

Eine wissenschaftliche Studie uber die Gegenstandsbereiche Rechtsextremismus und Rechtspopulismus zu konzipieren, kann zu sehr unterschiedlichen Erwartungshaltungen fuhren. Auf der einen Seite drangt sich die Notwendigkeit einer solchen Untersuchung wegen der Allgegenwartigkeit des Themas und dessen massiver politischer Relevanz geradezu auf. Legitimierungspotential ist also genug vorhanden, um sich dem Forschungsgebiet wissenschaftlich (in diesem spezifischen Fall: soziologisch) anzunahern.
Blister Prevention: An Experimental Method

Abstract This study was to determine the effectiveness of a blister prevention method using cold water to cool hot-spots on the feet. Twenty-four recently graduated high school athletes served as subjects, 12 in the experimental group and 12 in the control group. The immediate application of cold water to potential blister areas (hot-spots) was the independent variable. The dependent variable was the number of fully developed blisters that appeared in the groups. Two hypotheses were tested. H1, the hypothesis of no significant difference between the number of hot-spots appearing in the experimental group as compared to the control groups, was accepted. H2, the hypothesis of a significant difference in the number of blisters developed in the experimental group as compared to the control group was accepted, being statistically significant beyond the .01 level. Implications from the findings as well as modifications of the procedures are discussed with particular emphasis being placed on replication before f...
Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico by Jake Frederick

Frederick, Jake. Riot! Tobacco, Reform, and Violence in Eighteenth-Century Papantla, Mexico. Chicago: Sussex Academic Press, 2016.
Quantitative amplitude-measuring Φ-OTDR with pε/√Hz sensitivity using a multi-frequency pulse train.

We report an amplitude-measuring Rayleigh-based sensor that uses a series of frequency-shifted pulses to extract quantitative distributed strain measurements. By using frequency multiplexing, we are able to inject a train of 10 pulses into the fiber at once. This allows us to use a higher average input power than standard phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry systems, improving the sensitivity. The sensor recovers the strain by tracking the time-dependent amplitude of the Rayleigh backscattered light from all 10 pulses. This approach enables a sensor with a noise floor of 1.5pe/√Hz over 10 km of fiber with 12 m spatial resolution, a 5 kHz bandwidth, and a dynamic range of 80 dB at 1 kHz. The sensor exhibits a high degree of linearity and is immune to interference fading.
Pre-Procedural COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab Has Good Concordance with Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Patients at Low Risk for Viral Infection.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically affected hospital and operating room (OR) workflow around the world as well as trainee education. Many institutions have instituted mandatory preoperative SARS-CoV-2 PCR nasopharyngeal swab (NS) testing in patients who are low risk for COVID-19 prior to elective cases. This method, however, is challenging as the sensitivity, specificity, and overall reliability of testing remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the concordance of a negative NS in low risk preoperative patients with lower airway bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) specimens obtained from the same patients. METHODS: We prospectively sent intraoperative lower airway BAL samples collected within 48 h of a negative mandatory preoperative NS for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. All adult patients undergoing a scheduled bronchoscopic procedure for any reason were enrolled, including elective and nonelective cases. RESULTS: One-hundred eighty-nine patients were included. All BAL specimens were negative for SARS-CoV-2 indicative of 100% concordance between testing modalities. CONCLUSIONS: These results are promising and suggest that preoperative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 testing provides adequate screening to rule out active COVID-19 infection prior to OR cases in a population characterized as low risk by negative symptom screening. This information can be used for both pre-procedural screening and when reintroducing trainees into the workforce.
The Full Range Leadership Model: Essentials and Practicum

The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire generates a psychological inventory from propositions that aim to assess leadership styles and leadership outcomes: it is a multi-rater (or 360-degree) instrument, which means that its output—the MLQ 360 Leader’s Report—interprets and compares a leader’s self-assessment with ratings contributed across the same items by associates. This precis reflects on a Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire exercise conducted in May 2020.
THE YEAR IN REVIEW: MECHANICAL VENTILATION DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents the greatest medical crisis encountered in the young history of critical care and respiratory care. During the early months of the pandemic, when little was known about the virus, the acute hypoxemic respiratory failure it caused did not appear to fit conveniently or consistently into our classification of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This not only re-ignited a half-century's long simmering debate over taxonomy, but also fueled similar debates over how PEEP and lung-protective ventilation should be titrated, as well as the appropriate role of non-invasive ventilation in ARDS. Furthermore, COVID-19 ignited other debates on emerging concepts such as ARDS phenotypes and patient self-inflicted lung injury from vigorous spontaneous breathing. Over a year later these early perplexities have receded into the background without having been reviewed or resolved. With a full year of evidence having been published this narrative review systematically analyzes whether or not COVID-19 associated respiratory failure is essentially ARDS, with perhaps a somewhat different course of presentation. This includes a review of the severity of hypoxemia and derangements in pulmonary mechanics, PEEP requirements, recruitment potential, the ability to achieve lung-protective ventilation goals, duration of mechanical ventilation, associated mortality, and response to non-invasive ventilation. It also reviews the concepts of ARDS phenotypes and patient self-inflicted lung injury as these are crucial to understanding the contentious debate over the nature and management of COVID-19.
Can't We All Get Along - The Case for a Workable Patent Model

The global move towards a trade regime has been impeded by challenges of poverty and health crisis for the developing nations. Until now, the developed nations have touted the establishment of a trade regime as envisaged under TRIPS as the solution for the national challenges. This paper examines the effectiveness of TRIPS as a mechanism to move towards a trade regime. It argues that the patent policy in TRIPS cannot gear the world towards patent harmonization but can potentially adversely impact the developed nations and the post-world war trade structure. The impediments affecting the effectiveness of TRIPS as a harmonizing mechanism are identified to enable the chartering of a future strategy. This paper discusses the impact of the current WTO patent policy on the developed nation and the post-world war trade structure. The impediments affecting the effectiveness of TRIPS as a harmonizing mechanism are identified to enable the chartering of a future strategy. The paper distinguishes itself from other contributions on this subject by focusing on the impact on developed nations. The imminence for creating long-term strategies for harmonizing trade regimes is highlighted by the failure of TRIPS in pharmaceutical patents and the legitimization of the generic drug industry vide the Doha Declaration. Using India and Brazil as case studies, this paper emphasizes that future trade regimes should create enforceable contracts. The agenda should focus on empowering the third world to become trade partners rather than to merely use third world as a means to prevent international trade distortions. The flexibilities within the international intellectual property rules need to be fully explored to enable nations to use them as ingredients for economic development. The American patent regime itself embodies lessons in effective use of flexibilities to encourage industrial development. Solutions ranging from sectoral harmonization to integrating trade issues with other areas like health and environment should be fully explored. International policies furthering trade should pave a solution for developing nations to reconcile fundamental infrastructure issues. Global policies should dictate the need for sensitivity and awareness of national issues - an element lacking in TRIPS - to evolve economic changes affecting trade favorably. Taking account of and providing solution to issues that nations are bound to face in transitioning towards a global regime is the key to forge harmonization. In fulfilling international obligations, countries need to benefit nationally either economically or by solving key issues.
Race, APOE genotypes, and cognitive decline among middle-aged urban adults.

Background Associations of Apolipoprotein (APOE) e2 or e4 (APOE2 or APOE4) dosages with cognitive change may differ across racial groups. Methods Longitudinal data on 1770 middle-aged White and African American adults was compiled from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS 2004-2013) study. APOE2 and APOE4 dosages were the two main exposures, while v1 and annual rate of change in cognitive performance (between v1 and v2) on 11 test scores were the main outcomes of interest (v1: 2004-2009 and v2: 2009-2013). Mixed-effects linear regression models were conducted adjusting for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health-related potential confounders. Race (African American vs. White) and sex within racial groups were main effect modifiers. Results Upon adjustment for multiple testing and potential confounders, APOE4 allelic dosage was associated with faster decline on a test of verbal memory among Whites only (CVLT-List A: γ12 = - 0.363 ± 0.137, p = 0.008), but not among African Americans. In contrast, among African American women, APOE4 dosage was linked to slower decline on a test of attention (BTA: γ12 = + 0.106 ± 0.035, p = 0.002), while no association was detected among African American men. APOE2 and APOE4 dosages showed inconsistent results in other domains of cognition overall and across racial groups that did not survive correction for multiple testing. Conclusions In conclusion, APOE4 dosage was associated with faster decline on a test of verbal memory among Whites only, while exhibiting a potential protective effect among African American women in the domain of attention. Further longitudinal studies are needed to replicate our race and sex-specific findings.
Hybrid Workload Scheduling on HPC Systems.

Traditionally, on-demand, rigid, and malleable applications have been scheduled and executed on separate systems. The ever-growing workload demands and rapidly developing HPC infrastructure trigger the interest of converging these applications on a single HPC system. Although allocating the hybrid workloads within one system could potentially improve system efficiency, it is difficult to balance the tradeoff between the responsiveness of on-demand requests, the incentive for malleable jobs, and the performance of rigid applications. In this study, we present several scheduling mechanisms to address the issues involved in co-scheduling on-demand, rigid, and malleable jobs on a single HPC system. We extensively evaluate and compare their performance under various configurations and workloads. Our experimental results show that our proposed mechanisms are capable of serving on-demand workloads with minimal delay, offering incentives for declaring malleability, and improving system performance.
Influence of Surface Irregularities on Cavitation Performance

The problem of surface finish and its influence on cavitation inception is reviewed in terms of both theoretical aspects and practical implications. A field study indicates that the roughness problem may be broken down into two categories, namely, isolated asperities and distributed roughness. All the available data for isolated asperities are collated into a single equation involving Reynolds number and relative roughness height. The effects of distributed roughness are linearly proportional to the local skin friction coefficient. New data are presented for slots and wire screen roughness. The use of the collated data is illustrated by several examples.
Towards a generic model of configuraton tasks

A precise definition is provided for general configuration tasks. Two important assumptions are identified: (i) functional architecture and (ii) key component per function. A domain-independent model is presented based on these assumptions. These assumptions are shown to be both useful and tenable in real domains. They are useful because they limit the complexity of the general configuration task, determine the basic knowledge needed for solving a configuration task, and enable more efficient problem solving methods. Ideas are presented both for representing the knowledge and controlling the search. Some of these ideas were originally implemented in the Cossack expert system.
Cross-corpus depression prediction from speech

Research on detecting depression from speech has advanced in recent years, but most work has focused on the analysis of one corpus at a time. Given that clinical corpora are typically small, it is important to explore approaches that generalize across corpora and that could ultimately be adapted to new data. We study a new corpus of patient-clinician interactions recorded when patients are admitted to a hospital for suicide risk and again when they are released. To train prediction models, we use the 2014 AVEC challenge German speech dataset, which differs from our data in many factors (including language, context, speakers, and recording conditions). Results reveal that some of the AVEC-trained models predict scores for the clinical data that correlate with both HAM-D depression scores and with the pre-/post-admission ordering. A KL-divergence analysis within the clinical data confirms that the same feature set captures changes correlated with the HAM-D scores. Finally, read versus spontaneous speech samples in both corpora behave differently with respect to the best features and modeling approaches. Implications for the cross-corpus prediction of depression are discussed.
BIOCHEMISTRY OF VACCINIA-INFECTED MOUSE FIBROBLASTS (STRAIN L-M). IV. 3H-THYMIDINE UPTAKE INTO DNA OF CELLS EXPOSED TO COLD SHOCK.

Abstract The effects of cold shock at 4 ° and of vaccinia infection on the DNA metabolism of mouse fibroblasts (Strain L-M) were investigated by biochemical and radioautographic methods. The capacity of exponentially growing one-day-old cells to incorporate 3 H-thymidine ( 3 H-TDr) for one-hour into DNA is initially very active but declines to about a third of the control value if the cells are stored at 4 ° for 2 to 4 days. After the cold shocked cells are returned to 37 ° for 2 to 6 hr, DNA biosynthetic capacity is completely recovered in the case of cells cold shocked for 48 hr, and partially recovered in the case of cells cold shocked for 4 days. Vaccinia inhibited 3 H-TDr uptake into the total DNA of one-day-old cold shocked cells. When 2- day-old cells are stored at 4 ° for 4 days, and washed twice with BSS prior to incubation at 37 °, 3 H-TDr uptake for 1 hr into DNA is exceedingly low during the initial 7 hr period at 37 ° and less than 20 per cent of the cells incorporate 3 H-TDr into DNA. Thereafter, successive waves of DNA biosynthesis and mitoses are observed as the cells gradually recover from the cold shock treatment. Following infection of the cold shocked 2-day-old cells by vaccinia, the percentage of cells incorporating 3 H-TDr into the cell nuclei is reduced from about 15 per cent to less than 1 per cent during the 7 hr period of active viral-DNA synthesis. During the 8 to 7 hr period post inoculation of the virus, incorporation of 3 H-TDr into the total DNA of the infected cultures is stimulated as compared with the uninfected cultures. The results demonstrate that either stimulations or inhibitions of 3 H-TDr uptake into DNA of vaccinia infected cells may be observed, depending on the basal level of host cell chromosomal DNA synthesis during the period of virus DNA synthesis and the ratio of virus DNA to host cell DNA biosynthesis.
Effects of a Calcium Bentonite Clay in Diets Containing Aflatoxin when Measuring Liver Residues of Aflatoxin B₁ in Starter Broiler Chicks.

Research has shown success using clay-based binders to adsorb aflatoxin in animal feeds; however, no adsorbent has been approved for the prevention or treatment of aflatoxicosis. In this study, growth and relative organ weights were evaluated along with a residue analysis for aflatoxin B1 in liver tissue collected from broiler chickens consuming dietary aflatoxin (0, 600, 1200, and 1800 µg/kg) both with and without 0.2% of a calcium bentonite clay additive (TX4). After one week, only the combined measure of a broiler productivity index was significantly affected by 1800 µg/kg aflatoxin. However, once birds had consumed treatment diets for two weeks, body weights and relative kidney weights were affected by the lowest concentration. Then, during the third week, body weights, feed conversion, and the productivity index were affected by the 600 µg/kg level. Results also showed that 0.2% TX4 was effective at reducing the accumulation of aflatoxin B1 residues in the liver and improving livability in birds fed aflatoxin. The time required to clear all residues from the liver was less than one week. With evidence that the liver’s ability to process aflatoxin becomes relatively efficient within three weeks, this would imply that an alternative strategy for handling aflatoxin contamination in feed could be to allow a short, punctuated exposure to a higher level, so long as that exposure is followed by at least a week of a withdrawal period on a clean diet free of aflatoxin.
Partying With A Purpose

Reviews the book, Women at Work: Tupperware, Passion Parties, and Beyond by L. Susan Williams and Michelle Bemiller (2011). Women at Work considers the many in-home marketing plans directed at women. Using Dorothy Smith's The Everyday World as Problematic as their basis, L. Susan Williams and Michelle Bemiller examine the party plan economy as both a form of work and a form of consumption, and argue that the party plan economy genders us by eliciting our participation in the parties, work, consumption patterns, and lifestyles they generate. The authors frame the party plan economy as a "gender regime" and therefore also call these "gender parties" throughout the book. Some of the aforementioned parties are examined in this book by scholars other than the authors; their brief "case studies" are nested within some of the book's chapters. Bemiller and Williams describe their own experience of a Pampered Chef party (hosted by Bemiller and attended by Williams) to describe the way women get sucked into participating in such gender parties. The book is geared toward an undergraduate audience, one that has not considered gender before and that would have a limited tolerance for sustained arguments about theoretical matters. Williams and Bemiller include several personal anecdotes designed to relate to the focus of the book: why Williams's campus office bookshelves include personal items, and how she left her daughter on the curb as she attempted to juggle work and parental responsibilities; and how Bemiller's students sometimes share their stories of intimate partner violence. The authors' writing style and the book's layout are designed, I assume, to make the book seem down-to-earth and therefore readable for undergraduate students. Although an interesting and important topic to explore, this book does not put the many gender parties it mentions in an overall comparative perspective, offering only a superficial look at many such parties and ignoring some altogether. As such, its broad-brush coverage might serve as a useful springboard for those considering research on one or more of these parties. While its casual style might work for undergraduates in both marketing and gender courses learning about the variety of in-home party sales and the links between marketing and constructions of gender, the analyses will be seen as too simplistic by those seeking a serious scholarly study of gender and in-home marketing plans. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)