cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The impact of radiotherapy fields in the treatment of patients with choroid plexus carcinoma

Purpose To perform a comprehensive literature review and analysis of cases dealing with choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC) to determine the optimal radiotherapy (RT) treatment field. Methods and Materials A PubMed search of English language articles from 1979 to 2008 was performed, yielding 33 articles with 56 patients who had available data regarding RT treatment field. The median age at diagnosis was 2.7 years (range, 1 month–53 years). Of 54 patients with data regarding type of surgery, 21 (38.9%) had complete resection. Chemotherapy was delivered to 27 (48%) as part of initial therapy. The RT treatment volume was the craniospinal axis in 38 (68%), whole brain in 9 (16%), and tumor/tumor bed in 9 (16%). Median follow-up for surviving patients was 40 months. Results The 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 59.5% and 37.2%, respectively. Complete resection ( p = 0.035) and use of craniospinal irradiation (CSI; p = 0.025) were found to positively affect PFS. The 5-year PFS for patients who had CSI vs. whole brain and tumor/tumor bed RT were 44.2% and 15.3%. For the 19 patients who relapsed, 9 (47%) had a recurrence in the RT field, 6 (32%) had a recurrence outside the RT field, and 4 (21%) had a recurrence inside and outside the irradiated field. Conclusion Patients with CPC who received CSI had better PFS compared with those receiving less than CSI. This study supports the use of CSI in the multimodality management of patients with CPC.
Measuring total corneal power before and after laser in situ keratomileusis with high-speed optical coherence tomography

Purpose To measure total corneal power using optical coherence tomography (OCT). Setting Refractive surgery practices at 2 academic eye centers in Cleveland, Ohio, and Los Angeles, California, USA. Methods Thirty-two eyes of 17 patients having myopic laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) were enrolled in a prospective observational study. Manifest refraction, OCT, and Placido ring corneal topography with the Atlas 995 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.) were performed preoperatively and 3 months after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). A high-speed (2000 axial scans/second) corneal and anterior segment OCT prototype was used. The total corneal power was calculated by summation of the anterior and posterior surface powers, and the value was compared with that determined by simulated keratometry. Two methods of measuring total corneal power were tested: the direct method, which used OCT to measure both corneal surfaces directly, and the hybrid method, which combined OCT with anterior corneal topography. Results The repeatability (pooled standard deviation) of measuring total corneal power using the hybrid method was 3 times better than that using the direct method. It was 0.23 diopter (D) before LASIK and 0.26 D after LASIK. Preoperative total power was 1.13 D (2.6%) lower than the simulated keratometry. Compared to the LASIK-induced change in spherical equivalent refraction, the change in total corneal power was equivalent, while the change in simulated keratometry power was significantly smaller (−18.8%) ( P Conclusions Keratometry using the traditional index of 1.3375 overestimated the total power in preoperative corneas and underestimated LASIK-induced refractive change. Measuring both corneal surfaces using a combination of OCT and Placido ring topography provided a better measure of total corneal power that closely tracked the refractive change in post-LASIK eyes.
Retention of lateral motor column neurons during the phase of rapid cell loss after limb amputation in Rana pipiens tadpoles.

Target tissue regulation of naturally occurring neuronal death during development has often been studied by removing a limb bud and then analyzing spinal motor neuron number later in development. The present study focuses on the necessity for limb presence in the initiation of the most rapid phase of cell loss from the lateral motor column (LMC) and in the control of neuron number during this restricted developmental period. Unilateral hindlimb amputation in larval Rana pipiens at the time of onset of rapid LMC cell loss resulted in an unequal, bilateral retention of excess motor neurons (i.e., less cell loss than normally occurs) during this phase. Limb traumatization, with axotomy, also resulted in reduced bilateral LMC cell loss, although to a lesser extent than did amputation. Absence of the limb or axonal transection presumably prevents the communication of motor neurons with their differentiating targets and thus interferes with the flow of information required for the selective events of neuronal loss and survival. The presence of the limb with intact axons is essential at the time that LMC cell loss normally ensues for both the initiation and progression of the phase of greatest cell loss.
Predictors and outcomes of continuous veno-venous hemodialysis use after implantation of a left ventricular assist device.

Background Post-operative renal failure is a common complication after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This study was designed to evaluate predictors and outcomes of acute renal failure after LVAD insertion. Methods Two-hundred one patients undergoing LVAD implantation at a single institution from June 1996 through April 2004 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: those who required post-operative continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) (Group 1, n = 65, 32.3%) and those who did not (Group 2, n = 136, 67.7%). Independent predictors of post-operative renal failure requiring CVVHD were determined using multivariate logistic regression techniques. Results Patients who had post-operative renal failure requiring CVVHD were older (53.7 ± 12.9 vs 48.2 ± 14.2 years, p = 0.009), had a higher incidence of intra-aortic balloon pump use (46.6% vs 26.2%, p = 0.006), and had a higher pre-operative mean LVAD score (5.8 ± 3.5 vs 3.8 ± 3.3, p = 0.001) than those without renal failure. LVAD score was the only independent predictor of post-operative renal failure requiring CVVHD (odds ratio=1.226, p = 0.006). Sepsis rate was higher (33.3% vs 6.9%, p p p Conclusions Acute renal failure necessitating CVVHD remains a serious complication after LVAD and confers significant morbidity and mortality. Pre-operative evaluation of patient risk factors and optimization of peri-operative hemodynamics are of utmost importance to prevent this major complication.
O3 uptake and drought stress effects on carbon acquisition of ponderosa pine in natural stands

Summary • The effect of O3 exposure or uptake on carbon acquisition (net assimilation (A) or gross photosynthesis (Pg)), with and without drought stress, is reported here in 40-yr-old-ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) trees. • Maximum daily gas exchange was measured monthly for 12 trees at four sites differing in pollutant exposure over two growing seasons with above- and below-average annual precipitation. Gas exchange measures were estimated between sampling periods using a generalized additive regression model. • Both A and Pg generally declined with cumulative O3 exposure or uptake at all sites. As a response variable, Pg was slightly more sensitive than A to cumulative O3 exposure. As a metric, O3 uptake vs exposure permitted slightly better statistical resolution of seasonal response between sites. • The effect of late summer drought stress was statistically significant only at the moderate pollution site, and combined synergistically with O3 exposure or uptake to reduce Pg. The general additive model allows the user to define a deleterious level of cumulative O3 exposure or uptake, and to quantitatively assess biological response.
Change in Plasma Glutamate Concentration During Cardiac Surgery Is a Poor Predictor of Cognitive Outcome

Abstract Objective: To develop a simple and reliable method for quantitating plasma glutamate concentration and apply this method to monitor systemic glutamate levels during coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a procedure associated with neurologic deficits. Design: Prospective serial investigation of cardiac surgery patients. Setting: Tertiary-care university teaching hospital. Participants: Patients undergoing CABG surgery (n = 33). Interventions: Preoperative and postoperative neurologic and neurocognitive testing were done. Intraoperative blood samples for glutamate quantitation were obtained from jugular bulb and pulmonary artery catheters before, during, and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Measurements and Main Results: Glutamate concentrations were determined using a reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography method coupled to precolumn derivatization of the analyte with o-phthalaldehyde. The mean prebypass plasma glutamate concentration was 79.4 ± 41.8 μmol/L. Plasma glutamate levels fluctuated during surgery with considerable degrees of temporal and quantitative interpatient variability. Neurologic and neurocognitive deficits were observed after CABG surgery. However, neither the occurrence nor the severity of cognitive decline could be predicted by the magnitude of increase in plasma glutamate concentration. Conclusion: Fluctuations in intraoperative systemic glutamate levels do not predict post–CABG surgery neurologic outcome. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Subsolid pulmonary nodules and the spectrum of peripheral adenocarcinomas of the lung: recommended interim guidelines for assessment and management

Pulmonary nodule characterization is currently being redefined as new clinical, radiologic, and pathologic data are reported, necessitating a reevaluation of the clinical management, especially of subsolid nodules. These are now known to frequently, although not invariably, fall into the spectrum of peripheral adenocarcinomas of the lung. Strong correlation between the Noguchi histologic classification and computed tomographic (CT) appearances of these lesions, in particular, has been reported. Serial CT findings have further documented that stepwise progression of lesions with ground-glass opacity, manifested as an increase in size or the appearance and/or subsequent increase of solid components, does occur in a select subset of patients. As a consequence, recognition of the potential association between subsolid nodules and peripheral adenocarcinomas requires a review of current guidelines for the management of these lesions, further necessitated by a differential diagnosis that includes benign lesions such as focal inflammation, focal fibrosis, and organizing pneumonia. Specific issues that need to be addressed are the need for consensus regarding an appropriate CT classification, methods for precise measurement of subsolid nodules, including the extent of both ground-glass and solid components, as well as accurate assessment of the growth rates as means for predicting malignancy and prognosis. It is anticipated that interim guidelines may serve to standardize our current management of these lesions, pending further clarification of their natural history.
Framing Research and Assessment of Co-Curricular Learning

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview of important theories and frameworks that ground research and assessment of co-curricular learning.
Energy budget of the thermal gradient in the Southern Brazilian continental shelf

Various forms of energy conversion have been examined over the years and the energy of thermal gradients currently operating in some regions of the world has been studied. The Southern Brazilian Continental Shelf has high spatial and temporal temperature variability, indicating the need for a climatological analysis to identify the regions with the largest energy budgets. This region was shown to have a large energy budget through the analysis of sea surface temperature modelling data over 14 years. Based on the seasonality, the most suitable area for using an OTEC facility was identified. A numerical module forced with the monthly averaged modelling data was developed in order to estimates the thermal energy conversion from the ocean. The results show that there is a low sensitivity of the thermocline and thermal gradient associated with the change of seasons and oceanic features observed in this region. The theoretical maximum power produced can reach up to 121.9 MW and the average over the studied period was approximately 94.3 MW considering a punctual extraction spot. A simulated conversion site placed where there was greatest viability revealed that the average standard thermal gradient is 0.17 °C/m along the vertical column (545 m) from the sea.
Structural Configuration of Magic Realism in the Works of Gabriel García Márquez, Leslie Marmon Silko, Charles Johnson, and Julie Dash

Abstract This article raises the question of how contemporary multicultural authors and film directors build upon the magic-realist convention, with its specific narra-tive-discourse configurations (the way the story is told) to allow their audience access to foreign, often bizarre worlds. The first section of the analysis deals with understanding the precise structural configurations that make a text work as magic realism and explores variations that complicate the schemata. The second section relies on the first section's discussion of magic-realist codes to look closely at Julie Dash's film Daughters of the Dust , a text type that utilizes its visual and auditory tracks to work as magic realism. (Magic Realism; Visual and Literary Theory; Multicultural Images)
Wake Effects and Synergies in Aeroelastic Wind Power Harvesting Systems

The study presented in this paper investigates the effects of the wake of a novel, lowpower aeroelastic wind energy harvester on the power harnessed by a second harvester downstream of it, and serves as a preliminary study towards understanding the scalability of individual harvesters into a multi-unit array. Each harvester consists of a flexible cantilevered beam coupled with a wing that is free to rotate about a hinge at the beam’s tip. Kinetic energy is harnessed from the wind in the form of aeroelastic flutter oscillations, an otherwise destructive force in the aeronautics world, and a pair of piezoelectric transducers on each harvester generates an alternating voltage from this kinetic energy. The two harvesters were tested in a wind tunnel, first individually and then in tandem for various streamwise and cross-stream separations between the two, and the power dissipated by their piezoelectric elements through a resistive load was measured. The results of the study show that substantial synergies are available for harnessing within a system of two harvesters, and that the power output of a second, trailing harvester can be increased by up to 27% of its original output due to the presence of a first, leading harvester oscillating at a particular location upstream of it. Furthermore, the results also indicate that even when no substantial synergistic effects between the two harvesters arise, only a minimal decrease (up to 6.5%) sometimes occurs in the power output of a harvester operating in the wake of another, making these devices highly suitable to scaling up into arrays of multi-unit systems.
The effects of task instructions and instructed or uninstructed CS on the eyelid response

Eyelid responses were conditioned to an instructed and uninstructed CS and with one of three sets on instructions about a sound intensity judgement task accompanying the eyeblink. During acquisition Ss made significantly fewer responses to the uninstructed CS but significantly more responses during extinction. In neither acquisition nor extinction did the sound judgement task effect performance.
Failure to Demonstrate in Vitro Lysis of Sensitized Guinea Pig Leucocytes by Dog Henloglobin Antigen.

Summary and ConclusionsTwelve guinea pigs were sensitized with dog hemoglobin. Subsequently blood specimens were taken and heparinized and a portion of these specimens mixed with the antigen. White cell counts were done immediately after mixing, and repeated at 30, 60, and 120 minutes. In 2 cases counts were also made at 180 and 240 minutes. Controls of blood and saline in the same ratio as blood and antigen were counted concomitantly on each guinea pig. Blood specimens f rom 10 non-sensitized guinea pigs were similarly collected and counted. No significant difference in the total white cell counts from sensitized or non-sensitized animals either when mixed with saline or with the hemoglobin antigen was detected. The total mean white cell count of the sensitized animals in this series was 32.7% and 34.0% above that of the non-sensitized animals in the control and experimental tubes respectively. The above findings indicate that in vitrolysis of sensitized guinea pig leucocytes by dlog hemoglobin antigen d...
Prevalência de depressão nos internos de medicina geral e familiar da região sul de Portugal Continental: um estudo multicêntrico

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and antidepressant use among Family Medicine residents in the Southern Region of Continental Portugal and to study the associations between depression and gender, age, internship year, location of the health center, and type of health care facility. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Family Health Units and Personalized Health Care Units from the south of Portugal. Participants: Family Medicine residents from the south of Portugal. Methods: Self-administered questionnaires were sent electronically to Family Medicine residents from the Southern Region of Portugal. The Beck Depression Inventory II was used to measure depression. The Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation were used to evaluate associations of variables, with a significance level of 0,05 and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The response rate was 33%, giving a sample of 216 participants. Almost 80% of the participants were female. The average age was 30 years old. The residents were equally distributed among the four years of postgraduate training. The majority (88,9%) worked in Family Health Units and 61,1% worked in the Lisbon area. About 19% of the residents had some degree of depression: 8,9% (4,7-13,0) were classified as mild depression, 6,9% (3,2-10,6) as moderate depression and 2,9% (0,4-5,5) as severe depression. Seven percent were treated with antidepressants. Levels of depression were not related to age, gender, internship year or type of health unit. Conclusions: The study represents the first effort to quantify depression among Portuguese Family Medicine residents. It can serve as a starting point for further studies about physicians’ mental health, leading to interventions to improve their performance.
Chest pain, hypotension, and bradycardia.

A 78-year-old man awoke at 1:30 AM with sweating, lightheadedness, and substernal pain that radiated to both arms. He obtained no relief after taking two nitroglycerine tablets. Coronary bypass surgery had been performed eight years previously, with placement of an internal mammary artery graft to the anterior descending artery and a saphenous vein graft to an obtuse marginal branch. Angina had not recurred until two weeks previously, when he noted pain on mild effort. His only medications were aspirin and nitroglycerine.The pain was subsiding when the patient arrived In the emergency department 30 minutes after the onset of symptoms, and it disappeared after the administration of nasal oxygen. Pulse was 50 bpm, blood pressure, 70/40 mm Hg; respirations, 16 per min; temperature, 37.6° C; and arterial oxygen saturation, 94% by pulse oximetry. There were no significant abnormalities on the physical examination.
Implementation of a Scanning System in the Retail Grocery

Since 1973, the Universal Product Code (UPC) has appeared on all types of products. The UPC is a ten-digit bar code that is read by an optical scanner at the point-of-sale. This system has the potential for significant cost and time savings for both the retail grocer and the consumer.
Set-membership condition monitoring framework for dual fuel engines

Condition monitoring and condition-based maintenance can reduce maintenance costs and improve operation safety of vehicles across the full spectrum of transportation domain, including automotive, rail, air and marine applications. In this paper, a set-membership condition monitoring framework is proposed to detect aging and health degradation for dual fuel engines based on simultaneous input and parameter estimation techniques. Dual fuel engines operate in two modes, a diesel mode or gas mode, and can burn either diesel fuel or natural gas fuel. To improve health parameter identifiability, we exploit transient data from mode transitions between the diesel mode and gas mode. Simulation results based on a nonlinear mean-value model of the engine are reported, demonstrating that the proposed set-membership estimation algorithms can provide tight overbound of the health parameters.
Abstract 3143: Deciphering mechanisms of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer dormancy

More than 67% of deaths in breast cancer patients occur after the initial 5-year survival period while residual disease can be dormant for periods longer than 20 years. Patients are asymptomatic because circulating tumor cells (CTCs) remain dormant and are undetectable by current clinical tools. Dormant CTCs may retain their long-term tumor-initiating (LTI) potential by adhering to their original genome, unlike rapidly cycling cancer cells that are known to have increased genomic instability. We hypothesized that hyperactive mechanisms of DNA repair preserve the genomic make-up of dormant CTCs allowing them to retain their LTI potential, ultimately causing disease relapse. We isolated and characterized EpCAM-negative breast cancer CTCs by mutiparametric flow cytometry and DEPArrayTM. Individually isolated breast cancer CTCs had a large proportion (>40%) of dormant (Ki67-/PCNA-) cells. Dormant CTCs had a lower incidence of double-strand DNA breaks (DSB) than proliferating cells as assessed by the phosphorylation status of Serine139 on gamma H2AX. This observation was further validated in a panel of eight genetically distinct breast cancer cell lines. Second, to understand whether dormant cells are inherently more resistant to DSB, we induced DSB in breast cancer cells by UV radiation and bleomycin treatment, and measured residual DSB at regular intervals. Results showed that besides being more resistant to DSB de novo, dormant breast cancer cells were also more efficient in repairing their DNA. There are two distinct phases of DSB repair - early [within 2 hours of DSB using Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ) methods] and late [evident after 24 hours using Homologous Recombination (HR)]. Unlike proliferating (S-G2M) cells, dormant (G0) cells lack the sister chromatid and repair their DNA exclusively by NHEJ methods. Therefore, and third, we investigated key players of the NHEJ pathway and examined their roles in maintaining genomic integrity. We found that the human telomere-associated protein RIF1, a mediator of alternative NHEJ, was significantly up-regulated in a dormant CTC subset. Dormant sub-populations of breast cancer cells confirmed RIF1 foci formation in areas of DNA damage. Fourth, mis-sense mutation of RIF1 in CAMA-1 cells (ΔRIF1 E1598K) attenuated resistance of the dormant subset to UV and bleomycin treatment. Collectively, these findings suggest that RIF1 may play functional roles in maintaining the genomic integrity of dormant CTCs. Further investigations are being pursued to assess RIF1 contributions to retain CTC LTI potential leading to CTC-driven metastasis. Citation Format: Debasish Boral, Haowen N. Liu, Wei Yin, Monika Vishnoi, Antonio Scamardo, Goldy C. George, David S. Hong, Dario Marchetti. Deciphering mechanisms of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer dormancy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3143.
Ecology, Demography, Urbanization

Characteristics of the physical environment, the human population, and their mutual interaction in any society are fundamental to comparative analysis. However, many such characteristics are among the more difficult phenomena to measure with reasonable accuracy, particularly in less developed countries.
Construction and comparison of the statistical coil states of unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins from nearest-neighbor corrected conformational propensities of short peptides.

Assessing the influence of nearest neighbors on the conformational ensemble of amino acid residues in unfolded and intrinsically disordered proteins and peptides is pivotal for a thorough understanding of the statistical coil state of unfolded proteins as well as of the energetics of the folding process. Research aimed at exploring nearest neighbor interactions has mostly focused on the analysis of restricted coil libraries that reflect conformational distributions in loops connecting more regular secondary structure segments. Recently, however, Toal et al. reported an experimentally based structural analysis of selected xy-pairs in GxyG tetrapeptides, which revealed quantitative information about conformational changes induced by nearest-neighbor interactions (Eur. J. Chem., 2015, 21, 5173–5192). Here, we perform analyses of Ramachandran plots of xy-pairs in GxyG and in coil libraries (Ting et al., PLOS CompBiol, 2010, 6, e1000763) using Hellinger distances as a quantitative measure of dissimilarities between Ramachandran distributions. Our analysis reveals that nearest-neighbor effects inferred from the above coil library are much less pronounced than corresponding structural changes observed for GxyG peptides. To determine whether nearest-neighbor induced conformational changes observed for GxyG can be utilized for the analysis of unfolded proteins, we analyzed sets of 3J(HHHα) coupling constants of three different unfolded proteins, namely the 130-residue fragment of the Staphylococcus aureus fibronectin-binding protein (FnBPc), denatured hen lysozyme, and the htau40 protein. For the first two proteins we found statistically meaningful correlations between predicted nearest-neighbor induced changes of 3J(HHHα) and experimentally observed deviations from corresponding coupling constants of GxG peptides in water, which we used as reference system with minimal nearest-neighbor interactions. This observation is in line with the NMR based understanding of these proteins being predominantly statistical coils. For htau40, however, which is known to exhibit residual structure and large deviations form statistical coil expectations, these correlations are weak or absent. Our results thus underscore the importance of nearest-neighbor interactions for a complete physical description of an ideal statistical coil state of a protein.
Psychologic Effects, Body Image, and Pectus Excavatum and Carinatum

The appearance of the chest is a major concern to patients with pectus excavatum and carinatum. Surgical and psychological disciplines merge in the field of body image as it relates to chest wall deformities. This chapter discusses the history of body image, the evolution of body image study in pectus excavatum, and results of such inquiry to demonstrate how repair influences body image and quality of life.
Nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport.

How do messenger RNA molecules (mRNAs) migrate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm? Messenger RNA precursors (pre-mRNAs) are synthesized in the nucleus by RNA polymerase II and are then subjected to a series of processing reactions which include the addition of a 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5’ end, the removal of introns by splicing, and the generation of mature 3’ ends, usually by polyadenylation. Mature mRNA molecules are then translocated to the cytoplasm through the nuclear pore complex. This process must be selective, because unprocessed pre-mRNAs are not exported. Although the detailed mechanism of mRNA nuclear export is not yet well understood, recent work has begun to lay a useful framework for understanding the nature and regulation of this fundamental biological process. This chapter will describe the essential features of mRNA export. Due to space limitations, much important and interesting work on mRNA transport in viral model systems will not be included. However, a number of good recent reviews on mRNA export have been published (Corbett and Silver 1997; Nakielny et al. 1997; Nigg 1997; Izaurralde and Adam 1998; Ohno et al. 1998; Stutz and Rosbash 1998; Adam 1999).
Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Practice offers nurses a framework to uncover embodied knowledge of patients living with disabilities or illnesses: A discussion paper

Aim To discuss how Bourdieu's Theory of Practice can be used by nurse researchers to better uncover the embodied knowledge of patients living with disability and illness. Background Bourdieu's Theory of Practice has been used in social and healthcare research. This theory emphasizes that an individual's everyday practices are not always explicit and mediated by language, but instead an individual's everyday practices are often are tacit and embodied. Design: Discussion paper. Data Sources Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, and SCOPUS were searched for concepts from Bourdieu's theory that were used to understand embodied knowledge of patients living with disability and illness. The literature search included articles from 2003-2017. Implications for Nursing: Nurse researchers should use Bourdieu's Theory of Practice to uncover the embodied knowledge of patients living with disability and illness, and nurse researchers should translate these discoveries into policy recommendations and improved evidence-based best practice. The practice of nursing should incorporate an understanding of embodied knowledge to support disabled and ill patients as these patients modify “everyday practices” in light of their disabilities and illnesses. Conclusion Bourdieu's theory enriches nursing because the theory allows for consideration of both the objective and subjective through the conceptualization of capital, habitus and field. Uncovering individuals embodied knowledge is critical to implement best practices that assist patients as they adapt to bodily changes during disability and illness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
The Small and the Dead: A Review of Ancient DNA Studies Analysing Micromammal Species

The field of ancient DNA (aDNA) has recently been in a state of exponential growth, largely driven by the uptake of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques. Much of this work has focused on the mammalian megafauna and ancient humans, with comparatively less studies looking at micromammal fauna, despite the potential of these species in testing evolutionary, environmental and taxonomic theories. Several factors make micromammal fauna ideally suited for aDNA extraction and sequencing. Micromammal subfossil assemblages often include the large number of individuals appropriate for population level analyses, and, furthermore, the assemblages are frequently found in cave sites where the constant temperature and sheltered environment provide favourable conditions for DNA preservation. This review looks at studies that include the use of aDNA in molecular analysis of micromammal fauna, in order to examine the wide array of questions that can be answered in the study of small mammals using new palaeogenetic techniques. This study highlights the bias in current aDNA studies and assesses the future use of aDNA as a tool for the study of micromammal fauna.
Business Wealth and the Composition of Ownership Teams in New Firms: The Role of Homophily and Diversity

Although there is a growing body of research that suggests a positive association between racial diversity and positive business outcomes, there is a long-standing literature on homophily—the general tendency for individuals in organizations to associate and bond with similar others. But do business organizations benefit from either diversity or homophily? This paper investigates this question. Using data from a nationally representative sample of more than 1,700 business startups from the Kauffman Firm Survey, the multivariate analysis examines the relationship between the diversity or homophily of the founding ownership teams of business startups and their net worth (wealth). The analysis shows that, net of firm characteristics and human capital characteristics, startups with racially diverse founding teams have higher net worth than their homophilous counterparts. The implications of these findings are explored.
A new scale for the assessment of conjunctival bulbar redness

Abstract Purpose Current scales for assessment of bulbar conjunctival redness have limitations for evaluating digital images. We developed a scale suited for evaluating digital images and compared it to the Validated Bulbar Redness (VBR) scale. Methods From a digital image database of 4889 color corrected bulbar conjunctival images, we identified 20 images with varied degrees of redness. These images, ten each of nasal and temporal views, constitute the Digital Bulbar Redness (DBR) scale. The chromaticity of these images was assessed with an established image processing algorithm. Using 100 unique, randomly selected images from the database, three trained, non-physician graders applied the DBR scale and printed VBR scale. Agreement was assessed with weighted Kappa statistics (K w ). Results The DBR scale scores provide linear increments of 10 from 10-100 when redness is measured objectively with an established image processing algorithm. Exact agreement of all graders was 38% and agreement with no more than a difference of ten units between graders was 91%. K w for agreement between any two graders ranged from 0.57 to 0.73 for the DBR scale and from 0.38 to 0.66 for the VBR scale. The DBR scale allowed direct comparison of digital to digital images, could be used in dim lighting, had both temporal and nasal conjunctival reference images, and permitted viewing reference and test images at the same magnification. Conclusion The novel DBR scale, with its objective linear chromatic steps, demonstrated improved reproducibility, fewer visualization artifacts and improved ease of use over the VBR scale for assessing conjunctival redness.
Haplotype distribution of the human phenylalanine hydroxylase locus in Scotland and Switzerland

RFLP haplotypes at the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus were determined in 45 nuclear Caucasian families from Switzerland and Scotland. The RFLPs at the PAH locus are highly informative, and prenatal diagnosis is possible in 85% of the families studied. The data were combined with the profiles previously observed in the Danish population, in order to study the variation in RFLP haplotype distribution among European populations. A total of 22 different haplotypes were observed in Denmark, Switzerland, and Scotland. Fifteen and 19 haplotypes are associated with the normal (non-PKU) and with the mutant chromosomes, respectively. The haplotype distribution and the allele frequency of normal chromosomes remain constant between Denmark, Switzerland, and Scotland. However, both the haplotype distribution and allele frequencies of mutant chromosomes show significant variation between the three countries. Our results suggest there may be additional mutations in the PAH gene that cause PKU.
Quantifying Prior Opinion in Length-Biased Linear Mean Natural Exponential Family

Recently, Shanmugam [3] identified that there are only four members (namely, Binomial, Negative Binomial, Poisson, and Gamma) in a class called Linear Mean Natural Exponential Family (LMNEF). For a length-biased random sample from a LMNEF, we derive (1) Jeffreys’ noninformational, (2) Hartigan’s asymptotically locally invariant, and (3) conjugate priors, and employ them to drive a Bayesian inference-making engine.
Dependence motives of young adult users of electronic nicotine delivery systems.

Abstract Introduction Nicotine dependence contributes to changes in tobacco use among young adults. However, research examining salient dependence motives in young adult users of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is limited. This study examined the association of dependence motives with ENDS use or lifetime quit attempt, and tests sex moderation in these relationships. Methods Young adults (N = 304; age 18–24) self-identifying as regular ENDS users and self-reporting vaping within a week of data collection completed an online survey. They reported demographics, past 30-day vaping and smoking days and frequency, and lifetime quit attempt. Dependence motives were measured with the 14-item Wisconsin Inventory for Smoking Dependency Motives. Backward-stepwise models regressed ENDS use behaviors or lifetime quit attempt onto dependence motives, and separately onto the interactions between motives and sex. Results Tolerance was positively associated with daily ENDS use frequency (b = 0.34, p Conclusion Tolerance and loss of control were uniquely associated with ENDS use behaviors across all analytic models, although effects for loss of control were counter-intuitive. Understanding the relationship between dependence motives and ENDS use behaviors or attempts to quit may provide targets for preventive interventions against increased or continued ENDS use.
TAVRCATHAID: AN EDUCATIONAL MOBILE APPLICATION TO LEARN CORONARY ACCESS AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT

Expanding indication and use of Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) poses a unique problem of coronary access after valve implantation. Even though, troubleshooting tools and techniques have been published but are not available at the fingertips of the user at all the times. We tried to
Machine Learning for the Prediction of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: A Post Hoc Pilot Study of 28 Participants.

Background Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) severity and presence of symptoms are often difficult to predict based simply on clinical imaging alone. Similarly, improved machine learning techniques provide new tools with immense clinical potential. Methods A total of 14 patients with CSM and 14 controls underwent imaging of the cervical spine. Two different artificial neural network models were trained; 1) to predict CSM diagnosis; and 2) to predict CSM severity. Model 1 consisted of 6 inputs including 3 common imaging scales for the evaluation of cord compression, alongside 3 objective magnetic resonance imaging measurements. The outcome for model 1 was binary to predict CSM diagnosis. Model 2 consisted of 23 input variables derived from probabilistic volume mapping measurements of white matter tracts in the region of compression. The outcome of model 2 was linear, to predict the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) score. Results Model 1 was used in predicting CSM. The mean cross-validated accuracy of the trained model was 86.50% (95% confidence interval, 85.16%–87.83%) with a median accuracy of 90.00%. Area under the curve (AUC) was calculated for each repetition. Average AUC for each repetition was 0.947 with a median AUC of 1.0. Average sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 90.25%, 85.05%, 81.58%, and 91.94%, respectively. Model 2 was used in modeling mJOA. The mJOA model predicted scores, with a mean and median error of –0.29 mJOA points and –0.08 mJOA points, respectively, mean error per batch was 0.714 mJOA points. Conclusions Machine learning provides a promising method for prediction, diagnosis, and even prognosis in patients with CSM.
Gestational weight gain and optimal wellness (GLOW): rationale and methods for a randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention among pregnant women with overweight or obesity.

Excess gestational weight gain (GWG) is common among women with overweight or obesity, increasing their risks for pregnancy complications, delivering a large infant, and postpartum weight retention. To date, only intensive interventions have had success and few interventions have been designed for implementation in healthcare settings. We describe the development, rationale, and methods of GLOW (GestationaL Weight Gain and Optimal Wellness), a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention to prevent excess GWG among racially/ethnically diverse women with overweight or obesity in an integrated healthcare delivery system. Participants in Kaiser Permanente Northern California will be randomized, within 2 weeks of completing a study baseline clinic visit at 10 weeks’ gestation, to either usual medical care or a multi-component pregnancy lifestyle intervention adapted from the Diabetes Prevention Program (target N = 400). Informed by focus groups with patients and designed to be feasible in a clinical setting, the intervention will include 13 weekly individual sessions (11 delivered by telephone) focused on behavior change for weight management, healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management. Outcomes will be assessed in women and their infants from randomization to 12 months postpartum. The primary outcome is GWG. Secondary outcomes include changes in diet and physical activity during pregnancy and infant birthweight. Exploratory outcomes include cardiometabolic profile assessed via pregnancy blood samples and cord blood samples; and postpartum weight retention and infant anthropometrics up to 12 months of age. The trial includes systematic approaches to enhance intervention fidelity, intervention adherence, and participant retention in trial assessments. GLOW is among few trials targeting excess GWG among diverse women with overweight or obesity in a healthcare setting, with long-term maternal and infant outcomes assessed up to 12 months after delivery. This evaluation of a multi-component intervention is designed to produce generalizable results to inform potential adoption of the intervention in clinical settings. ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02130232 ): submitted April 30, 2014; posted May 5, 2014.
Advising 2.0: Helping Students Achieve Academic Success Through Meaningful Academic Advising

It is becoming increasingly clear that current law students are seeking more wraparound support than previously provided by legal education, which begs the question, why? The answer is simple - modern law students are different and come to law school with very different expectations and experiences than students from previous years. To aid our students in achieving academic success, it is essential that we understand the complex needs of our students by first examining their previous educational experiences. Academic advising is commonplace at institutions that serve undergraduate students. In fact, some would argue that academic advising is the cornerstone of student success. Advising at the undergraduate level is viewed as a collaborative relationship between student and advisor that is designed to provide the meaningful support students need to achieve their academic goals throughout matriculation. Professional academic advisors, academic support and academic resource centers are as common to undergraduate students as hornbooks and supplements (or Westlaw and Lexis) are to law students. Millennials make up the largest population of students currently in law school. Millennials often come to law school with the expectation they will receive academic advising and support similar to their undergraduate academic experience. However, to students’ surprise, law school generally does not provide the level of advising that Millennials are used to receiving. This often leaves law students feeling as though they are lost in the process of academic planning, and far too often results in students relying on their classmates for academic planning advice. In fact, more law students are noting the lack of academic advising and basic course planning assistance in their graduation exit surveys. Millennials need as much structured guidance and support as possible to fulfill their goal of academic success and passing the bar exam, and a professional academic advisor can be instrumental in that process. Through this two-way relationship between student and advisor, Millennials will know how and where to access accurate information about resources, policies, procedures and requirements- while receiving invaluable individualized guidance to help them along their educational journey. Each of these components is essential to a successful and meaningful law school experience for Millennials.
Preference Reversals in Equivalent Choices between Individuals and Policies That Affect Individuals

Across five preregistered experiments (N = 4,202), we examine whether people make systematically different choices when choosing between individuals and policies. In an admissions context, we rando...
Techniques of grief therapy creative practices for counseling the bereaved: 1st ed., by R. Niemeyer, New York, Routledge, 2012, $30.48 (paperback), ISBN-13 978-0415807258

This is an essential book, which gives clear and concise insight into the complex and multifaceted aspects of treating clients struggling with grief and loss. The author approaches this delicate to...
Three-dimensional simulations of magnetic reconnection in a dusty plasma

We present the results of three-dimensional self-consistent multi-fluid simulations of magnetic reconnection in a dusty plasma. We ballistically relax a Harris-like current sheet into a fluid pseudo-equilibrium. We then perturb the current sheet with typical inflow and outflow velocities associated with classical models of reconnection. We find a 20% decrease in magnetic energy for the case of a locally enhanced resistivity. For a parameter-dependent resistivity we find a 26% decrease in magnetic energy in the current sheet. We find dust-neutral relative flow velocities that are a factor of two greater than the dust Alfven velocity. We then explore the implications of these flows on aerodynamic drag heating of the dust particles.
Nutrition in the Neurocritical Care Unit: a New Frontier

This review presents the most current recommendations for providing nutrition to the neurocritical care population. This includes updates on initiation of feeding, immunonutrition, and metabolic substrates including ketogenic diet, cerebral microdialysis (CMD) monitoring, and the microbiome. Little evidence exists to support differences in feeding practices among the neurocritical care population. New areas of interest with limited data include use of immunonutrition, pre/probiotics for microbiome manipulation, ketogenic diet, and use of CMD catheters for substrate utilization monitoring. Acute neurologic injury incites a cascade of adrenergic and neuroendocrine events resulting in a pro-inflammatory and hypercatabolic state, which is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality. Nutritional support provides substrates to mitigate the damaging effects of hypermetabolism. Despite this practice, studies on feeding delivery outcomes remain inconsistent. Guidelines suggest use of early enteral nutrition using standard polymeric formulas. Population heterogeneity, variability in interventions, complexities of the metabolic and inflammatory responses, and paucity of nutrition research in patients requiring neurocritical care have led to controversies in the field. It is imperative that more pragmatic and reproducible research be conducted to better understand underlying pathophysiology and develop interventions that may improve outcomes.