cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapy and extreme exercise: A potentially dangerous combination

Acute exertional compartment syndrome of the thighs is extremely rare. It should be considered in patients who present with myalgia and swelling after vigorous exercise. We present a case of a 35-year-old female athlete with breast cancer who had received one cycle of chemotherapy. The patient presented with diffuse myalgias in her thighs after an exercise session. She was diagnosed with chemotherapy induced compartment syndrome of the bilateral thighs with resultant rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. She required continuous venovenous hemodialysis. The patient suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be resuscitated. This case draws attention to the potential myotoxocity of certain chemotherapeutic agents. It also demonstrates acute compartment syndrome as a rare but devastating consequence of extreme physical training associated with certain chemotherapeutic agents. As many of our patients are adopting vigorous exercise routines, it is important for physicians to be aware of acute exertional compartment syndrome, as it necessitates a high degree of clinical suspicion.
Before the cloud

Clouds have long been thought to be the visible sign of Nature, brought by wind to presage what will befall us from high above. Now the wind – and with it the weather in general – has changed, so c...
Neuroendocrinology: Oestrogen therapy affects brain structure but not function

According to new research, oestrogen therapy in postmenopausal women is associated with ventricular enlargement and increased white matter hyperintensities in the brain, but not with cognitive decline. This disconnect between structural and functional effects suggests that brain-derived lipids can be harnessed to meet the bioenergetic demand imposed by normal cognition.
Pentostatin in Steroid-Refractory Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Pentostatin, one of the purine nucleoside analogues, is known to decrease lymphocyte number and function. It has been successfully used to treat steroid refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We are currently investigating pentostatin for refractory chronic GVHD (cGVHD). Fifty-two patients were enrolled and 42 are assessable for response. All patients presented here failed at least two immunosuppressive regimens including steroids at a dose equivalent to at least 1 mg/kg/day prednisone for one month. The treatment protocol consists of giving pentostatin 4 mg/m2/dose IV every 2 weeks for 6 months. Patients with improving disease were permitted to continue pentostatin therapy at a 3 to 4 week interval. To reduce the risk of infection, steroids are tapered early in all patients and they received prophylactic antibiotics (antibiotics, fluconazole, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and valcyclovir). At the end of 3 months, patients with stable or improving cGVHD are weaned off their other medications but maintained on a calcineurin inhibitor. Pentostatin is stopped at 6 months if complete response (CR) is achieved or continued if partial response (PR). Patients are followed for improvement in the skin/fascia, mouth, and liver. The severity of GVHD is scored for each system on a scale from 0 to 4. Complete response is resolution of symptoms (irreversible changes [such as long standing contractures] due to cGVHD were not required to improve to score a CR if all other changes improved); partial response is at least a 1 point improvement in this score system. Mixed response is improvement in 1 system but worsening in another. Fifty-two patients have received a median of 8.5 doses (range 1–34). Median age of the cohort is 40.5 years (range 5 to 67). Diagnoses include AML/MDS (6), ALL (7), hemoglobinopathy (2), aplastic anemia (3), CML (16), myelofibrosis (1), NHL (8), myeloma (4), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (3), CLL (1), and lymphohistiocytosis (1). Graft source included 20 patients: 6/6 sibling BMT; 10 patients: 6/6 sibling PBSCT; 10 patients: MUD BMT; 6 patients 5/6 MUD BMT; 2 patients: 6/6 MUD PBSCT; 1 patient 5/6 sibling BMT; 1 patient: 6/6 sibling BMT followed by DLI; 1 patient 5/6 BMT from a child; and 1 patient, unknown. Most patients were on calcineurin inhibitor, eleven on prednisone, seven on MMF, one on rapamycin, and one was receiving ECP at entry on the study. In the 42 assessable patients, 5 patients attained a CR, 16 a PR, 5 a mixed response (improvement in one organ with deterioration in another one), and 16 patients have progressed. The overall response rate is 50%. Therapy has been well-tolerated with infections being the main concern. Mucormycosis, pneumonia, disseminated fungal infection, fungal pneumonia, progressive disease were the causes of death of the 15 patients who have died and only infections could be related to the study drug. The results suggest that pentostatin has activity in the treatment of cGVHD and may be especially beneficial in children and adolescents as the 5 CR were in this group.
Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity are impaired in APP/PS1 transgenic mice prior to amyloid plaque pathogenesis and cognitive decline

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by beta-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, neurofibrillary tangles and cognitive decline. Clinical data suggests that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for AD-related dementia and several clinical studies have demonstrated that AD patients show alterations in peripheral glucose regulation characterized by insulin resistance (hyperinsulinemia) or hypoinsulinemia. Whether animal models of AD exhibit a pre-diabetic phenotype without additional dietary or experimental manipulation is unclear however, with contradictory data available. Further, most studies have not examined the time course of potential pre-diabetic changes relative to AD pathogenesis and cognitive decline. Thus, in this study we tested the hypothesis that a pre-diabetic phenotype (peripheral metabolic dysregulation) exists in the APP/PS1 transgenic model of AD under normal conditions and precedes AD-related pathology. Specifically, we examined glucose tolerance in male APP/PS1 mice on a C57BL/6J congenic background at 2, 4-6 and 8-9months of age by assessing fasting glucose levels, glucose tolerance, plasma insulin levels and insulin sensitivity as well as the development of pathological characteristics of AD and verified that our APP/PS1 mice develop cognitive impairment. Here we show that APP/PS1 mice, compared to wild-type controls, exhibit a significant impairment in glucose tolerance during an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (ipGTT) and a trend for increased fasting plasma insulin concentrations as early as 2months of age, while extracellular Aβ1-42 deposition occurs later and cognitive decline exists at 8-9months of age. Moreover, APP/PS1 mice did not respond as well to exogenous insulin as the wild-type controls during an intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (ipITT). Taken together, these data reveal that male APP/PS1 mice on a C57BL/6J congenic background exhibit a pre-diabetic phenotype prior to the development of AD-like pathology and that this metabolic deficit persists when they exhibit neuropathology and cognitive decline. This raises the question of whether altered glucose regulation and insulin production/secretion could contribute to AD pathogenesis.
A Race to the Top From the Bottom of the Well? The Paradox of Race and U.S. Education Reform

AbstractThis article explores the paradox of “race” and U.S. education reform in the 21st century. I consider how the invisible ontology of race and its entangled relationship with class divert our attention from economic inequality and undermine policies intended to redress racial inequality in schools. I conclude that the education research community must unpack its use of “race” and focus on the role of racism in the maintenance of racial caste in America's schools.
First report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana.

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of rose rosette disease caused by Rose rosette virus on Knock Out roses in Louisiana. It is difficult to assess the total value of roses in Louis...
Some Descriptive Characteristics of Student Performance in PSI and Lecture Courses

Data are reported showing that the Utah version of PSI used in beginning psychology courses leads to a substantially higher percentage of student withdrawals than occurs typically in comparable lecture courses. Several academic charcteristics of students who withdraw and students who complete PSI courses are reported.
Evolutionary Game Theory Perspective on Dynamic Spectrum Access Etiquette

In this paper, we describe the long-term evolution of societies of secondary users in dynamic spectrum access networks. Such an understanding is important to help us anticipate future trends in the organization of large-scale distributed networked deployments. Such deployments are expected to arise in support of a wide variety of applications, including vehicular networks and the Internet of Things. Two new biologically-inspired spectrum access strategies are presented here, and compared with a random access baseline strategy. The proposed strategies embody a range of plausible assumptions concerning the sensing capabilities and social characteristics of individual secondary users. Considering these strategies as the basis of a game against the field, we use replicator dynamics within an evolutionary game-theoretic analysis to derive insights into the physical conditions necessary for each of the strategies to be evolutionarily stable. Somewhat surprisingly, we find that the physical channel conditions almost always uniquely determine which one of the three (pure) strategies is selected, and that no mixed strategy ever survives. We show that social tendencies naturally become advantageous for secondary users as they find themselves situated in network environments with heterogeneous channel resources. Hardware test-bed experiments confirm the validity of the analytic conclusions. Taken together, these results predict the emergence of social behavior in the spectrum access etiquette of secondary users as cognitive radio technology continues to advance and improve. The experimental results show an increase in the throughput of up to 90%, when strategy evolution is continuously operational, compared with any static strategy. We present use cases to envision the potential application of the proposed evolutionary framework in real-world scenarios.
Impact of Systemic Antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Recurrent Skin Infection

Background Staphylococcus aureus colonization poses risk for subsequent skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI). We hypothesized that including systemic antibiotics in the management of S. aureus SSTI, in conjunction with incision and drainage, would reduce S. aureus colonization and incidence of recurrent infection. Methods We prospectively evaluated 383 children with S. aureus SSTI requiring incision and drainage and S. aureus colonization in the anterior nares, axillae, or inguinal folds at baseline screening. Systemic antibiotic prescribing at the point of care was recorded. Repeat colonization sampling was performed within 3 months (median, 38 days; interquartile range, 22-50 days) in 357 participants. Incidence of recurrent infection was ascertained for up to 1 year. Results Participants prescribed guideline-recommended empiric antibiotics for purulent SSTI were less likely to remain colonized at follow-up sampling (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], .30-.79) and less likely to have recurrent SSTI (aHR, 0.57; 95% CI, .34-.94) than those not receiving guideline-recommended empiric antibiotics for their SSTI. Additionally, participants remaining colonized at repeat sampling were more likely to report a recurrent infection over 12 months (aHR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.69-3.31). Clindamycin was more effective than trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) in eradicating S. aureus colonization (44% vs 57% remained colonized, P = .03) and preventing recurrent SSTI (31% vs 47% experienced recurrence, P = .008). Conclusions Systemic antibiotics, as part of acute SSTI management, impact S. aureus colonization, contributing to a decreased incidence of recurrent SSTI. The mechanism by which clindamycin differentially affects colonization and recurrent SSTI compared to TMP-SMX warrants further study.
Multiscale Modeling of Contact-Induced Plasticity in Nanocrystalline Metals

Predicting the integrity of metallic thin films deposited on semiconductors for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications requires a precise understanding of surface effects on plasticity in materials with nano-sized grains. Experimentally, the use of nanoscale contact probes has been very successful to characterize the dependence of flow stress on mean grain size in nanocrystalline metals. From atomistic simulations, several models of plastic yielding for metal indentation have also been proposed based on the nucleation and propagation of lattice dislocations, and their interaction with grain boundaries beneath penetrating tips. However, model refinement is needed to include the characteristics of materials whose grain size is much smaller than the typical plastic zones found in contact experiments. Particularly, cooperative deformation processes mediated by grain boundaries, such as grain rotation, deformation twinning, and stress-driven grain coarsening, can simultaneously emerge for very small grain sizes (< 20 nm), thus making a predictive understanding of plastic yielding elusive. This chapter summarizes our recent progress in using multiscale modeling to gain fundamental insight into the underlying mechanisms of surface plasticity in nanocrystalline face-centered cubic metals deformed by nanoscale contact probes. Two numerical approaches to model contact-induced plasticity in nanocrystalline materials, the quasicontinuum method and parallel molecular dynamics simulation, are reviewed. Using these techniques, we discuss the role of a grain boundary network on the incipient plasticity of nanocrystalline Al films deformed by wedge-like cylindrical tips, as well as the processes of stress-driven grain growth in nanocrystalline films subjected to nanoindentation
In vivo and in situ spectroscopic imaging by a handheld stimulated Raman microscope (Conference Presentation)

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy generates chemical maps of live cells or tissues. A handheld imaging system using an optical fiber for laser delivery further enables in situ and in vivo measurements. However, the non-resonant background caused by the interaction between two ultrafast pulses inside an optical fiber overwhelms the stimulated Raman signal from the sample. Here, we report a background-free handheld SRS microscope. By temporally separating the two ultrashort pulses propagating in the fiber and then overlapping them on a sample through a dispersive material, we detected stimulated Raman signal that is 200 times weaker than the non-resonant background. The handheld microscope allowed ambient-light mapping of pesticide on a spinach leaf, cancerous tissue versus healthy brain tissue in a canine model, and cosmetic distribution on live human skin.
The polytext system —a new design for a text retrieval system

During 1979, after preliminary studies in 1978, Kval, Stockholm, in cooperation with SRI International, California, initiated a new research and development project, planned to produce new insights into information science and to yield a useful computerized system for text retrieval, The Polytext System’s. The project is closely associated with previous and ongoing studies at the two institutions, jointly and independently, on the semantics and pragmatics of question-answering.
FREE RADICAL REACTIONS WITH DNA AND ITS NUCLEOTIDES

The interaction of free radicals with DNA has been a major area of interest and speculation, but previous electron spin resonance investigations of this area have been very limited. Many free radicals, like other chemicals will interact physically with DNA before they react chemically.
Properties of selected structural and flat flexible cabling materials for low temperature applications

Abstract We present measurements of the low temperature thermal conductivity for materials useful in the construction of cryogenic supports for scientific instrumentation and in the fabrication of flat flexible cryogenic cabling. The materials we measure have relatively low thermal conductivity. We present a method for measuring the heat transfer coefficient of flat cabling and show, using an example, that the thermal conductivity of a flex cable is reasonably well predicted by composing the thermal conductivities of its constituent material layers. Room temperature physical and mechanical data is given for the materials studied, as well as an overview of relevant materials science and manufacturing details. Materials include Timet Ti 15-3 and Ti 21S, Materion alloy vit105 (LM105) in amorphous state, ATI Metals Nb-47Ti, Johnson Matthey nitinol (NiTi), Mersen graphite grade 2020, DuPont Pyralux coverlay and Vespel SCP-5050, and Fralock Cirlex polyimide sheets. All data is in the temperature range 0.05–2 K, and up to 5 K for SCP-5050.
Palladium-Catalyzed Difluoromethylation of Aryl Chlorides and Bromides with TMSCF2H.

A palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl chlorides/bromides with TMSCF2H is described. Two different catalysts, Pd(dba)2/BrettPhos and Pd(PtBu3)2, are demonstrated and provide a variety of difluoromethylated arenes in good yields.
O que pode ser aprendido sobre alfabetização artística através da dança? Um ensaio especulativo

In this visual essay, we discuss Dance in the City , a course that examines the multiple dimensions, contexts, and purposes of dance through an innovative pedagogy. Drawing upon our research and practice as dance and visual arts educators, we conceptualized our course and its learning experiences around a notion of dance literacy in which understanding and making dance/movement are complimentary acts that take place within a sociocultural context. Our vision was to develop a course that explored the broad context of dance to create a rare opportunity for students to engage with an otherwise largely ignored art form in higher education. From our speculative standpoint on dance pedagogy, we demonstrate how each student’s speculative trajectory in our course can lead to imagining and embodying futures and different ways of knowing about art, dance, and the world.
Mood and quality of life changes in pregnancy and postpartum and the effect of a behavioral intervention targeting excess gestational weight gain in women with overweight and obesity: a parallel-arm randomized controlled pilot trial.

Intensive lifestyle interventions in pregnancy have shown success in limiting gestational weight gain, but the effects on mood and quality of life in pregnancy and postpartum are less known. The purpose was to quantify changes in mental and physical quality of life and depressive symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum period, to determine the association between gestational weight gain and change in mood and quality of life, and to assess the effect of a behavioral intervention targeting excess gestational weight gain on these outcomes. A three group parallel-arm randomized controlled pilot trial of 54 pregnant women who were overweight or obese was conducted to test whether the SmartMoms® intervention decreased the proportion of women with excess gestational weight gain. Individuals randomized to Usual Care (n = 17) did not receive any weight management services from interventionists. Individuals randomized to the SmartMoms® intervention (n = 37) were provided with behavioral weight management counseling by interventionists either in clinic (In-Person, n = 18) or remotely through a smartphone application (Phone, n = 19). In a subset of 43 women, mood and mental and physical quality of life were assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory-II and the Rand 12-Item short form, respectively, in early pregnancy, late pregnancy, 1–2 months postpartum, and 12 months postpartum. The SmartMoms® intervention and Usual Care groups had higher depressive symptoms (p < 0.03 for SmartMoms® intervention, p < 0.01 for Usual Care) and decreased physical health (p < 0.01) from early to late pregnancy. Both groups returned to early pregnancy mood and physical quality of life postpartum. Mental health did not change from early to late pregnancy (p = 0.8), from early pregnancy to 1–2 months (p = 0.5), or from early pregnancy to 12 months postpartum (p = 0.9), respectively. There were no significant intervention effects. Higher gestational weight gain was associated with worsened mood and lower physical quality of life across pregnancy. High depressive symptoms and poor quality of life may be interrelated with the incidence of excess gestational weight gain. The behavioral gestational weight gain intervention did not significantly impact these outcomes, but mood and quality of life should be considered within future interventions and clinical practice to effectively limit excess gestational weight gain. NCT01610752 , Expecting Success, Registered 31 May 2012.
Resolving the Fluorescence Quenching Mechanism of an Oxazine Dye Using Ultrabroadband Two-Dimensional Electronic Spectroscopy

The design and optimization of fluorescent labels and fluorogenic probes rely heavily on their ability to distinguish among multiple competing fluorescence quenching mechanisms. Cresyl violet, a member of the 1,4-oxazine family of dyes, has generally been regarded as an exemplary fluorescent probe; however, recent ultrafast experiments revealed an excited-state decay kinetic of 1.2 ps, suggesting the presence of a transient photochemical state. Here, we present ultrabroadband two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2D ES) measurements of cresyl violet in the presence of the fluorescence quenching agent 3,6-di(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazine. The broad spectral bandwidth allows for the evaluation of multiple fluorescence quenching mechanisms such as exciton formation, photoinduced electron transfer, resonance energy transfer, and excited-state proton transfer. The 2D electronic spectra in the presence and absence of the quencher suggest that excited-state proton transfer drives the system's excited-state dynamics and leads to a cresyl violet tautomer involved in fluorescence quenching. The invocation of the tautomeric form of cresyl violet neatly resolves longstanding inconsistencies in the photophysics of oxazine dyes more generally. Although still under development, the application of ultrabroadband 2D ES to a molecular system represents a compelling demonstration of the technique's future role in the study of photochemical reaction mechanisms.
Ticagrelor induces paraoxonase-1 (PON1) and better protects hypercholesterolemic mice against atherosclerosis compared to clopidogrel

Ticagrelor (TIC), a P2Y purinoceptor 12 (P2Y12)-receptor antagonist, has been widely used to treat patients with acute coronary syndrome. Although animal studies suggest that TIC protects against atherosclerosis, it remains unknown whether it does so through its potent platelet inhibition or through other pathways. Here, we placed hypercholesterolemic Ldlr-/-Apobec1-/- mice on a high-fat diet and treated them with either 25 mg/kg/day of clopidogrel (CLO) or 180 mg/kg/day of TIC for 16 weeks and evaluated the extent of atherosclerosis. Both treatments equally inhibited platelets as determined by ex vivo platelet aggregation assays. The extent of atherosclerosis, however, was significantly less in the TIC group than in the CLO group. Immunohistochemical staining and ELISA showed that TIC treatment was associated with less macrophage infiltration to the atherosclerotic intima and lower serum levels of CCL4, CXCL10, and TNFα, respectively, than CLO treatment. Treatment with TIC, but not CLO, was associated with higher serum activity and tissue level of paraoxonase-1 (PON1), an anti-atherosclerotic molecule, suggesting that TIC might exert greater anti-atherosclerotic activity, compared with CLO, through its unique ability to induce PON1. Although further studies are needed, TIC may prove to be a viable strategy in the prevention and treatment of chronic stable human atherosclerosis.
Creating measurable, practice-relevant day-1 competencies for swine veterinary education

Background: Veterinary education (VE) is increasingly transitioning toward a competency-based model with a focus on educational outcomes. The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges published a framework of competencybased veterinary education (CBVE) to provide guidance to veterinary educators in creating a curriculum that would graduate proficient veterinarians, capable of carrying out activities central to the profession, without supervision. Aims and Objectives: Swine Faculty at a Midwest Institution aimed to create a subset of competencies anchored in the CBVE framework for graduates aspiring to practice swine medicine. Methods: Using the Delphi process and the collaboration of swine practitioners and educators around the country, the team developed a list of 109 competencies divided into nine domains and three levels of expertise. Results: The list was designed as an online, interactive, savable tool, available at http://z.umn.edu/SwineCompetencies . Conclusion: Following this work, the swine faculty plans to evaluate the swine curriculum at the college level with the intent to incorporate additional opportunities for the students to practice and be assessed on the activities listed.
Quantile-Specific Heritability may Account for Gene-Environment Interactions Involving Coffee Consumption.

Estimated heritability of coffee intake ranges from 0.36 to 0.58, however, these point estimates assume that inherited effects are the same throughout the distribution of coffee intake, i.e., whether consumption is high or low relative to intake in the population. Quantile regression of 4788 child–parent pairs and 2380 siblings showed that offspring–parent and sibling concordance became progressively greater with increasing quantiles of coffee intake. Each cup/day increase in the parents’ coffee intake was associated with an offspring increase of 0.020 ± 0.013 cup/day at the 10th percentile of the offsprings’ coffee intake (slope ± SE, NS), 0.137 ± 0.034 cup/day at their 25th percentile (P = 5.2 × 10–5), 0.159 ± 0.029 cup/day at the 50th percentile (P = 5.8 × 10–8), 0.233 ± 0.049 cup/day at the 75th percentile (P = 1.8 × 10–6), and 0.284 ± 0.054 cup/day at the 90th percentile (P = 1.2 × 10–7). This quantile-specific heritability suggests that factors that distinguish heavier vs. lighter drinkers (smoking, male sex) will likely manifest differences in estimated heritability, as reported.
A Long Cycle Life, All-Solid-State Lithium Battery with a Ceramic–Polymer Composite Electrolyte

All-solid-state lithium batteries are receiving ever-increasing attention to both circumvent the safety issues and enhance the energy density of Li-based batteries. The combinative utilization of L...
Increasing the Numbers of Homeless Veterans Served by the Veterans Health Administration from 2008 to 2015: maintaining focus on the intended target population and on sustaining service intensity

In 2009, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) set a goal of ending veteran homelessness by expanding health care and housing services. The process of expanding programs on a large scale can lead...
Deuteron Magnetic Resonance in a-Zr2PdD2.9

Deuteron Magnetic Resonance (DMR) measurements at 30.7 MHz have been performed on an a-Zr2PdD2.9 sample between 19 and 460 K. A Bruker CXP 200 spectrometer and a cryogenic probe were used to examine Fourier transform line shapes and relaxation rates. Spin-lattice relaxation rates (\(\Gamma _1 = {\text{T}}_1^{ - 1} \)) were obtained by the saturation-recovery method. Transverse relaxation rates (\(\Gamma _2 = {\text{T}}_2^{ - 1} \)) were measured from line shapes which were Gaussian in the rigid lattice and Lorentzian when well narrowed. A quadrupole echo sequence was used to measure Γ1 and Γ2 for temperatures less than 345 K. In the rotating reference frame spin-lock rates Γ1ρ(SL) were measured with H1 locking fields of 10 and 40 G. Below 170 K, decay of quadrupolar order was observed with Jeener-Broekaert1 pulse sequences.
The Impact of Interdisciplinary Care on Cost Reduction in a Geriatric Trauma Population.

The current growth of the geriatric population and increased burden on trauma services throughout the United States (US) has created a need for systems that can improve patient care and reduce hospital costs. We hypothesize that the multidisciplinary services provided through the Geriatric Injury Institute (GII) can reduce hospital costs, improve patient triage throughput, and decrease hospital length of stay (LOS). Methods and Material: We performed a single-center, retrospective chart review of our Level II trauma center registry and electronic medical records of patients ages 65 and older who satisfied trauma activation/code criteria between July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016 (N = 663). Patients presenting from July 1, 2014, to June 30, 2015, were grouped as Pre-GII, while those presenting from July 1, 2015, to June 30, 2016, were grouped as Post-GII. Primary outcomes were emergency department (ED) triage time, overall LOS, and hospital costs. Secondary outcomes included patient disposition, mortality, and health assessments. Statistical comparisons were made using a one-way analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Pre-GII vs. Post-GII average ages and the Injury Severity Score (ISS) were not statistically different (p>0.05). The average LOS was similar between the Pre-GII and Post-GII groups (4.64 ± 4.42 days vs. 4.26 ± 5.58 days, p = 0.48). More patients were discharged earlier (≤ 4 days; 64% vs. 73%) as well as discharged to home (37% vs. 45%) in the Post-GII group. The total cost savings were $53,000 with a median savings of $1061 per patient ($8808 vs. $7747, p = 0.04). Savings were highest during the first two days of admission (p = 0.03). The reduction in ED triage time was not significant (310.7 minutes vs 219. 8 minutes, p > 0.05). Conclusion: With the increase in geriatric trauma, innovative models of care are needed. Our study suggests that the GII multidisciplinary approach to trauma services can lower overall hospital costs.
Treatment Algorithm for Surgical Site Infections Following Extensor Mechanism Repair.

» Despite general agreement regarding techniques for extensor mechanism repair, there is very limited guidance in the literature for the management of surgical site infections (SSIs) that may occur after these procedures. » Early or mild superficial SSIs, such as cellulitis, can be managed on an outpatient basis while monitoring for improvement, with escalated intervention if the symptoms do not resolve within 1 week. » Deep SSIs should be managed more aggressively with surgical irrigation and debridement (I&D), including the knee joint, depending on the results of the aspiration, removal of all braided nonabsorbable suture (if necessary) with immediate or delayed exchange with monofilament suture, and the administration of parenteral antibiotics based on culture results and an infectious disease consult. » Arthrocentesis should be performed early to monitor for the spread of infection to the joint space, and diagnosis of a septic knee joint should be immediately followed by arthroscopic or open I&D. » For refractory cases (i.e., wound coverage issues or persistent infections despite multiple attempts at debridement), a consult with a plastic surgeon for consideration of a gastrocnemius flap is recommended, and surgeons should remain suspicious of the possibility of the contiguous spread of osteomyelitis.
Determinants of COVID-19 preventive behaviours among adults with chronic diseases in the USA: an analysis of the nationally representative COVID-19 impact survey.

Background Preventive behaviours have been recommended to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Adults with chronic diseases (CDs) are at higher risk of COVID-19-related mortality compared to the general population. Our objective was to evaluate adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours among adults without CDs compared with those with CDs and identify determinants of non-adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Study design Cross-sectional. Setting and participants We used data from the nationally representative COVID-19 Impact Survey (n=10 760) conducted in the USA. Primary measures Adults with CDs were categorised based on a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease/heart attack/stroke, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchitis or emphysema, cystic fibrosis, liver disease, compromised immune system, or cancer (54%). Results Compared with adults without CDs, adults with CDs were more likely to adhere to preventive behaviours including wearing a face mask (χ2-p Conclusion Adults with CDs are more likely to adhere to recommended COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Public health messaging targeting specific demographic groups and geographic areas, such as adults without CD or adults living in rural areas, should be prioritised.
How Algorithms Expose the Law

Legal algorithms seem up to no good, particularly in the domain of criminal law, where they have been shown to produce biased and inequitable outcomes. But oftentimes legal algorithms are not causing harm. Instead, they are revealing harm inherent to the laws that they apply. Algorithms have an overlooked capacity to reveal information about law. So far, machine learning has been used to optimize legal predictions. But machine learning could also be used to explore and demarcate the limits of legal predictions. By generating models that capture the full range of ways that a prediction can be made under a particular law, algorithms can reveal how accurately a legal outcome can be predicted, how a law’s outcomes will be distributed across the population, and the strength of factors used to predict a particular outcome. These insights can be used to ascertain a law’s systemic limits: how a law falls short of its intended purpose; how a law necessarily affects certain groups; how a law works in arbitrary, inefficient, or redundant ways; and how seemingly neutral predictions include value judgments that may conflict with other legal principles and goals. Algorithmic exposure should be adopted as a routine, best practice for diagnosing the efficacy and fairness of predictive laws, particularly in the domain of criminal law. This Article uses pretrial incarceration doctrine as lens for surveying how algorithmic exposure could be incorporated within political advocacy, legislation, and agency policy. By using algorithms to reveal the limits of contemporary pretrial incarceration laws, advocacy groups could refine their policy positions and galvanize the public. Likewise, legislatures could use algorithms as a diagnostic tool for assessing and calibrating potential pretrial reforms. Independent of statutory changes, prosecutors could use algorithmic analysis of pretrial doctrine to justify internal policy reforms — both in court and to the public. Taken together, these examples reveal algorithms’ potential as a tool for exposing and transforming the law.
Rewriting Our Nation's Deadly Traffic Manual

Every day, Americans entrust their lives to a road system that is governed by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways (the Manual). On its face, this Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) publication is a straightforward technical document. It contains over eight hundred pages of engineering guidance on everything from traffic-light placement to the font of highway signs. It also establishes acceptable methods for officials to modify speed limits. While such provisions may sound inconsequential, some of the Manual’s provisions have far-reaching, even deadly, consequences. They prioritize vehicular speed over public safety, mobility over other uses of public space, and driving over other modes of mobility. With these car-centric priorities, the Manual has helped generate a nearly constant and fast- moving stream of vehicle traffic that renders road users like pedestrians, wheelchair users, and cyclists vulnerable. Moreover, by giving preference to driving over other modes of transportation, the Manual has indirectly facilitated a rise in transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions that are the single largest contributor to climate change. Despite the evidence stacked against some of its most important provisions, the Manual has stubbornly endured — perhaps because it has been virtually unknown outside of transportation engineering and urban planning. But over the past year, the Manual has finally started to receive the scrutiny it deserves. In 2020, the FHWA proposed a new draft of the Manual that would maintain the current version’s most outdated and discredited features. During a recently closed notice-and-comment process, the agency received over 26,500 comments. Even in the unlikely event that the agency rips up the proposed revisions and starts fresh, the core of the Manual will probably remain intact for years to come. This Essay explains how the Manual biases transportation behavior in dangerous and inequitable ways. It urges the FHWA to use its emergency powers to rescind its most damaging provision — the so-called 85th Percentile Rule, which legalizes dangerously high speeds of traffic — and to undertake a complete rewrite that follows a scientifically sound, evidence-based approach; prioritizes safety, access, equity, climate action, and prosperity; and incorporates feedback from diverse stakeholders.
THE EVOLUTION OF STYRENIC POLYMERS IN AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

Styrene-based polymers have been used widely in automotive applications for more than 25 years, and during the past few years, the styrenic family has undergone a dramatic evolutionary change. With the downsizing of the automobile and the move to eliminate the painting of the plastic parts, new end-use requirements are being placed on the styrenic family. To meet these new performance requirements, old resins are being modified and new resins are being developed.
Law and Mechanism Design: Procedures to Induce Honest Bargaining

A classic challenge in contract and property law is unstructured negotiation between two parties with asymmetric information (i.e., each party has different private information) under bilateral monopoly (each party must negotiate with the other to try to reach an agreement), which often leads to prohibitively high transaction costs and, if the parties fail to agree, social costs as well. In these situations, the law should incorporate principles of mechanism design, a methodology that employs structured procedures to give the parties incentives to reach agreement. In terms of contract theory, mechanisms constitute algorithmic altering rules that reduce if not eliminate inefficient transaction costs. We review two bargaining mechanisms that inherently elicit honesty by making it a dominant strategy and discuss two extensions for legal applications. In particular, we show that algorithmic procedures would reduce transaction costs and lead to more efficient bargaining in pretrial settlement negotiations and blockholder disclosure under section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The former is a straightforward application of mechanism design to a negotiation situation where the social externalities of non-agreement justify inducing the honest disclosure of reservation prices, or “bottom lines.” The latter is an example of using mechanism design to facilitate negotiated settlements in situations presently subject to a suboptimal mandatory rule.
An embedded platform with duty-cycled radio and processing subsystems for wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor nodes are increasingly being tasked with computation and communication intensive functions while still subject to constraints related to energy availability. On these embedded platforms, once all low power design techniques have been explored, duty-cycling the various subsystems remains the primary option to meet the energy and power constraints. This requires the ability to provide spurts of high MIPS and high bandwidth connections. However, due to the large overheads associated with duty-cycling the computation and communication subsystems, existing high performance sensor platforms are not efficient in supporting such an option. In this paper, we present the design and optimizations taken in a wireless gateway node (WGN) that bridges data from wireless sensor networks to Wi-Fi networks in an on-demand basis. We discuss our strategies to reduce duty-cycling related costs by partitioning the system and by reducing the amount of time required to activate or deactivate the high-powered components. We compare the design choices and performance parameters with those made in the Intel Stargate platform to show the effectiveness of duty-cycling on our platform. We have built a working prototype, and the experimental results with two different power management schemes show significant reductions in latency and average power consumption compared to the Stargate.
Revisiting the Medieval Black Death of 1347-1351: Spatiotemporal Dynamics Suggestive of an Alternate Causation

Recent research points to multiple inconsistencies regarding modern Yersinia pestis (in Bubonic, Pneumonic, or Septicemic Plague variants) as a causative agent for the Medieval Black Death (MBD). Published arguments at odds with a Y. pestis-caused epidemic include differences in recorded periodicity, seasonal mortality peaks, relevant biogeographical details, genetic findings, and spatiotemporal dynamics, among other inconsistencies. Here, we describe and expand on some of the recent literature noting these items. In addition, we discuss preliminary research related to our recently published theory, in which we agree with research suggesting that the MBD was caused by a virus, not a bacterium, and elucidate our contention that seasonal changes and medieval human trade patterns controlled the timing of peak mortality during the MBD and subsequent ‘plagues’. Epidemic evidence from the first epidemic wave and later outbreaks is presented in support of our hypothesis.
Rheological Characteristics of Sour Cherries in Gels Containing Waxy Maize and Cassava Starches

Eight gels composed of sour cherries, starch ingredient, sucrose, potassium sorbate and citric acid were prepared using the same recipe. The starch component was waxy maize (WM) or cassava (CA) starch or their blends with cold water swelling (CWS) starches. The gels varied only in the origin and type of chemical modification of starch (acetylated distarch adipate, hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate). Rheological properties of the gels were studied. Flow tests showed that all samples were pseudoplastic and exhibited shear thinning behavior with tendency to yield stress. The structural recovery of the cherry gels was above 55% and was clearly dominated by the origin of the starch. Linear viscoelastic data showed that all fruit gels exhibited weak gel-like structure. Classification of gels into two different types was confirmed both in results of steady flow and low amplitude oscillatory tests. Cherry gels containing modified WM starches showed very good heat and rheological stability, whereas gels based on CA starches and their blends with CWS WM starches were more susceptible to shear rates and increased temperature. Practical Applications Fruit gels are popular low-level sugar products used mainly in confectionery. It is very important to provide appropriate viscosity of this product (thick or thin, depending on its usage). Starch is commonly used in production of modern food, mainly to modify its texture and to improve food stability during storage. This research was developed to study the effect of starch addition on the rheological properties of cherry gels. Published works provide information for researchers on this area of study and enable producers to make fruit gels of great consumer's acceptability.
Visual Simultaneous Localization And Mapping With Stereo And Wide-angle Imagery

Mobile robots provide automated solutions for a range of tasks in industrial settings including but not limited to inspection. Our interest is automated inspection tasks including gas leakage detection in natural gas processing facilities such as those in Qatar. Using autonomous mobile robot solutions remove humans from potentially hazardous environments, eliminate potential human errors from fatigue, and provide data logging solutions for visualization and off-line post-processing. A core requirement for a mobile robot to perform any meaningful inspection task is to localize itself within the operating environment. We are developing a visual Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) system for this purpose. Visual SLAM systems enable a robot to localize within an environment while simultaneously building a metric 3D map using only imagery from an on-board camera head. Vision has many advantages over alternate sensors used for localization and mapping. It requires minimal power compared to Lidar sensors, is relatively inexpensive compared to Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), and can operate in GPS denied environments. There is extensive work related to visual SLAM with most systems using either a perspective stereo camera head or a wide-angle of view monocular camera. Stereo cameras enable Euclidean 3D reconstruction from a single stereo pair and provide metric pose estimates. However, the narrow angle of view can limit pose estimation accuracy as visual features can typically be 'tracked' only across a small number of frames. Moreover, the limited angle of view presents challenges for place recognition whereby previously visited locations can be detected and loop closure performed to correct for long-range integrated position estimate inaccuracies. In contrast, wide-angle of view monocular cameras (e.g. fisheye and catadioptric) trade spatial resolution for an increased angle of view. This increased angle can enables visual scene points to be tracked over many frames and can improve rotational pose estimates. The increased angle of view can also improve visual place recognition performance as the same areas of a scene can be imaged under much larger changes in position and orientation. The primary disadvantage of a monocular wide-angle visual SLAM system is a scale ambiguity in the translational component of pose/position estimates. The visual SLAM system being developed in this work uses a combined stereo and wide-angle fisheye camera system with the aim of exploiting the advantages of each. For this we have combined visual feature tracks from both the stereo and fisheye camera within a single non-linear least-squares Sparse Bundle Adjustment (SBA) framework for localization. Initial experiments using large scale image datasets (approximately 10 kilometers in length) collected within Education City have been used to evaluate improvements in localization accuracy using the combined system. Additionally, we have demonstrated performance improvements in visual place recognition using our existing Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based place recognition algorithm.
Antiquity of Photosynthesis: Possible Constraints from Archaean Carbon Isotope Record

Carbon is stored in the earth’s crust principally as two carbon species: reduced or “organic” carbon (Corg) and oxidized or “carbonate” carbon (Ccarb). With most of the element concentrated in the sedimentary shell, the reduced and oxidized carbon constituents of terrestrial sediments make up the bulk of total carbon residing in the outer skin of the planet.