cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary care providers' experiences with urine toxicology tests to manage prescription opioid misuse and substance use among chronic noncancer pain patients in safety net health care settings

ABSTRACTBackground: Guideline recommendations to reduce prescription opioid misuse among patients with chronic noncancer pain include the routine use of urine toxicology tests for high-risk patients. Yet little is known about how the implementation of urine toxicology tests among patients with co-occurring chronic noncancer pain and substance use impacts primary care providers' management of misuse. Clinicians' perspectives on the benefits and challenges of implementing urine toxicology tests in the monitoring of opioid misuse and substance use in safety net health care settings are presented in this paper. Methods: Twenty-three primary care providers from 6 safety net health care settings whose patients had a diagnosis of co-occurring chronic noncancer pain and substance use were interviewed. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Results: The benefits of implementing urine toxicology tests for primary care providers included less reliance on intuition to asse...
Trends in analgesic exposures reported to Texas Poison Centers following increased regulation of hydrocodone

AbstractContext: In October 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration reclassified hydrocodone to schedule II, increasing regulations on use. The impact of rescheduling hydrocodone on opioid exposures is unclear, especially in states with special restrictions required for prescribing schedule II agents. Objective: To assess whether changes in exposures to prescription opioid analgesics and heroin as reported to poison centers occurred in the 6 months after hydrocodone rescheduling. We hypothesized that hydrocodone exposures would decrease, while less tightly regulated opioids, such as codeine and tramadol, would increase. Materials and methods: This study compares opioid analgesic exposures reported to Texas Poison Centers before and after this change in a state that requires special prescription pads for Schedule II agents. Cases included all opioid analgesic exposures reported to a statewide poison center network, comparing exposures from 6 months before to 6 months after heightened regulations. Specifi...
The Apocalyptic Science Fiction of Jacques Spitz

Jacques Spitz (1896-1963) was the most important writer of French science fiction during the 1930s and 1940s. An engineer by profession and heavily influenced by Surrealism, Spitz specialized in sf narratives combining end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it catastrophes with highly realistic detail and black-humor satire. His most famous sf novels—most of which are not available in English—include L’Homme elastique [The Elastic Man, 1938], La Guerre des mouches [The War of the Flies, 1938], Les Signaux du soleil [Signals from the Sun, 1943], and L’Oeil du purgatoire [The Eye of Purgatory, 1945]. In the history of French science fiction, Spitz was one of the last of a handful of pioneering sf authors in France who, during the early decades of the twentieth century, began to break away from the popular extraordinary voyage narrative recipe of Jules Verne and —following in the speculative footsteps of H.G. Wells, J.-H Rosny aine, and Maurice Renard—experimented with a host of new sf variants.
Rubber-Thermoplastic Compositions. Part IV. Thermoplastic Vulcanizates from Various Rubber-Plastic Combinations

Abstract The ultimate mechanical properties (σB and eB) and elastic recovery (inversely measured by tension set) of dynamically vulcanized melt mixed rubber-plastic blends increase with the similarity of the rubber and plastic in respect to the critical surface tension for melting γc. They also increase with the crystallinity Wc of the plastic (resin) phase. Stiffness, as measured by Young's modulus E, increases with the differences in surface energy between the two phases.
Susceptibility of Liriomyza sativae and L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to Permethrin and Fenvalerate

Susceptibility to the pyrethroids permethrin and fenvalerate was determined for several populations of Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and L. trifolii (Burgess) leafminers from various crops in Hawaii. Susceptibility varied significantly among populations of both species. Populations with a history of extensive insecticide use had 2- to 71-fold higher LC50’s than did a L. sativae population from a site with minimal insecticide use. L. trifolii was significantly more tolerant to fenvalerate than permethrin. L. trifolii was generally more tolerant to both pyrethroids than was L. sativae.
331 PROVIDING HELMETS AND BICYCLE SAFETY EDUCATION VIA A BIKE RODEO IN HAILEY, IDAHO.

Purpose of Project To reduce preventable fatal and nonfatal bicycle injuries by increasing bicycle helmet ownership and providing bicycle safety instruction to parents and children through a community bike safety event. A windshield survey and discussions with local law enforcement revealed that a large number of children in Hailey were not wearing helmets and did not follow basic bicycle safety rules. Methods Through local sponsorship, free helmets were provided to participants with concurrent instruction on how to wear helmets properly. Bicycle safety, maintenance, and rules were taught by the bilingual Hailey Police Department on a bike “rodeo” course, which highlighted the most prominent causes of bicycle accidents. Several booths provided additional information to parents about local safe routes to school and bike trails, as well as bicycle safety instructional materials. Results Helmets were provided to 70 children and approximately 125 parents and children attended the event. Parents overwhelmingly expressed gratitude for the instruction provided by the police department and regional organizations and several indicated the need for ongoing instruction. Conclusion The bicycle rodeo benefited a significant number of children and parents in the Hailey community. Surplus helmets and other items from the Bike Rodeo were donated to an upcoming bike safety event. These efforts in conjunction with ongoing local efforts to teach parents and children bike safety are critical in potentially reducing fatal and nonfatal bicycle injuries.
Interaction and Influence Research on Power Filter with Controllable Rectifier

The interaction between filter and 6 pulse controlled rectifier of DC motor speed system are introduced.The effect of commutated current,commutated angleα,overlap angle 7,power factor and harmonic currents etc.is analyzed when the filters is connected to low-voltage side of commutated transformer.This paper describes the practical calculating method of the changes and the test results at site.It is shown that the interaction must be considered in the design of filter.
Design of ARINC429 PCI Communication Interface Based on DD-03282

A method of ARINC429 communication interface card based on DD-03282 is introduced.In this design,PCI interface is realized with FPGA,and DD-03282 is used to construct a ARINC429 communication system.Meanwhile,it gives some words about how to program the WDM driver for this card.
The effects of lower crustal strength and preexisting midcrustal shear zones on the formation of continental core complexes and low-angle normal faults

To investigate the formation of core complexes and low-angle normal faults, we devise thermo-mechanical simulations on a simplified wedge-like orogenic hinterland that has initial topography, Moho relief, and a preexisting mid-crustal shear zone that can accommodate shear at very low angles (<20°). We mainly vary the strength of the lower crust and the frictional strength of the preexisting mid-crustal shear zone. We find that the strength of the lower crust, and the existence and strength of a preexisting shear zone significantly affect the formation and evolution of core complexes. With increasing lower crustal strength, we recognize varying extensional features with decreasing exhumation rate: these are characterized by bivergent metamorphic massifs, classic Cordilleran metamorphic core complexes, multiple consecutive core complexes (or boudinage structures), and a flexural core complex underlined by a large subsurface low-angle detachment fault with a small convex curvature. Topographic loading and mantle buoyancy forces, together with divergent boundaries, drive a regional lower crustal flow that leads to the exhumation of the lower crust where intensive upper crustal faulting induces strong unloading. The detachment fault is a decoupling zone that accommodates large displacement and accumulates sustained shear strain at very low angle between upper and lower crust. Though the regional stress is largely Andersonian, we find non-Andersonian stress in regions adjacent to the preexisting shear zone and those with high topographic gradient. Our new models provide a view that is generally consistent with geological and geophysical observations on how core complexes form and evolve.
Neurology Individualized Medicine: When to Use Next-Generation Sequencing Panels

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly being applied to clinical testing. This practice is predicted to grow especially in neurology clinics because many of their patients have monogenetic causes for their "diagnostic odyssey." The cost of sequencing has been steadily decreasing, but the cost of DNA sequencing is a minor part of the total cost. Downstream data analysis, storage, and interpretation account for most of the total expense. In patients with nonspecific neurologic disorders in which an extensive number of genetic differential diagnoses exist, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) or whole-exome sequencing (WES) has shown promise in the identification of genetic causes. However, both WGS and WES have incomplete coverage and produce a large number of rare variants of unknown importance. In addition, ethical dilemmas are often created by unexpected findings in genes unrelated to the initial sequencing indication. Targeted-panel NGS starts with the capture of a set of disease-focused genes, followed by massive parallel sequencing. For many genetically heterogeneous neurologic disorders, a genetic panel that is disease focused yet inclusive of a large genetic differential diagnosis can be defined to reduce cost, increase turnaround time, and optimize performance. Targeted-panel NGS is currently the preferred first-tier approach because it provides a reliable clinical application while eliminating unexpected ethical dilemmas. Targeted-panel NGS is leading to a paradigm shift in the diagnosis of many neurologic disorders, enabling individualized precision medicine. In this review, we provide an overview of WGS, WES, and targeted-panel NGS in consideration of their utility in clinical testing for neurologic diseases.
Recent development on silicon-based Raman lasers and amplifiers

We present a monolithic integrated Raman silicon laser and amplifier based on silicon-on-insulator rib waveguide race-track ring resonator with an integrated p-i-n diode structure. Under reverse biasing, we efficiently reduced the nonlinear loss due to two-photon absorption induced free carrier absorption and achieved continuous-wave net gain and stable, single-mode lasing with output power exceeding 30mW and 10% slope efficiency. The laser emission has high spectral purity with a side mode suppression exceeding 70dB and a laser linewidth of <100 kHz. This ring resonator architecture allows for on-chip integration with other silicon photonics components to provide a highly integrated and scaleable monolithic device. Using the ring resonator architecture, we can build a compact, chip scale Raman amplifier that takes advantage of the resonance effect to increase the effective pump power and reduce the device size. Our simulations suggest that a 3dB net gain can be achieved with 4dB less pump power in a 3cm ring compared to a straight waveguide of the same length.
Anatomic and visual acuity outcomes following thermal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma with associated serous retinal detachment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE This study reports and compares the anatomic and visual acuity outcomes of patients treated with either thermal laser photocoagulation or photodynamic therapy for circumscribed choroidal hemangioma with associated serous retinal detachment. PATIENTS AND METHODS Retrospective, consecutive, interventional case series of patients treated for symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma. RESULTS Thirteen of 23 patients (57%) treated with thermal laser photocoagulation exhibited complete resolution of subretinal fluid, 6 (26%) had partial resolution of subretinal fluid, and 4 (17%) had persistent subretinal fluid despite therapy. At 3 months posttreatment, visual acuity was improved in 6 (26%), stable in 13 (57%), and worsened in 4 (17%) of 23 patients. All 5 patients who underwent photodynamic therapy had complete resolution of subretinal fluid. At 3 months posttreatment, visual acuity improved in 4 (80%), remained stable in 1 (20%), and worsened in 0 (0%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Photodynamic therapy shows similar if not better anatomic and visual acuity results than thermal laser photocoagulation when treating symptomatic circumscribed choroidal hemangioma.
From under the veil to under the knife: women, cosmetic surgery, and the politics of choice in Afghanistan

This study investigates the factors motivating women in Afghanistan to seek cosmetic surgery through qualitative in-depth interviews with 16 consumers of cosmetic surgery. Providing a discussion of...
Hall viscosity and nonlocal conductivity of gapped graphene

We calculate the Hall viscosity and the nonlocal (i.e., dependent on wave vector $\mathbit{q}$) Hall conductivity of ``gapped graphene'' (a nontopological insulator with two valleys) in the presence of a strong perpendicular magnetic field. Using the linear-response theory at zero temperature within the Dirac approximation for the Landau levels, we present analytical expressions for both valley and total Hall viscosities and conductivity up to ${\mathbit{q}}^{2}$ at all frequencies. Although the final formulas for total Hall viscosity and conductivity are similar to the ones previously obtained for gapless graphene, the derivation reveals a significant difference between the two systems. First of all, both the Hall viscosity and the Hall conductivity vanish when the Fermi level lies in the gap that separates the lowest Landau level in the conduction band from the highest Landau level in the valence band. It is only when the Fermi level is not in the gap that the familiar formulas of gapless graphene are recovered. Second, in the case of gapped graphene, it is not possible (at least, within our present approach) to define a single-valley Hall viscosity: this quantity diverges with a strength proportional to the magnitude of the gap. It is only when both valleys are included that the diverging terms, having opposite signs in the two valleys, cancel out, and the familiar result is recovered. In contrast to this, the nonlocal Hall conductivity is finite in each valley. These results indicate that the Hoyos-Son formula [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 066805 (2012)] connecting the Hall viscosity to the coefficient of ${q}^{2}$ in the small-$q$ expansion of the $q$-dependent Hall conductivity cannot be applied to each valley, but only to the system as a whole. The problem of defining a ``valley Hall viscosity'' remains open.
Foreword: special section "Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Surgery".

I have been invited to join the Editorial Board of AME Case Reports and Chair the Section “Case Reports in Gastrointestinal Surgery”.
Improving the treatment planning and delivery process of Xoft electronic skin brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose To develop an improved Xoft electronic skin brachytherapy process and identify areas of further improvement. Methods and Materials A multidisciplinary team conducted a failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) by developing a process map and a corresponding list of failure modes. The failure modes were scored for their occurrence, severity, and detectability, and a risk priority number (RPN) was calculated for each failure mode as the product of occurrence, severity, and detectability. Corrective actions were implemented to address the higher risk failure modes, and a revised process was generated. The RPNs of the failure modes were compared between the initial process and final process to assess the perceived benefits of the corrective actions. Results The final treatment process consists of 100 steps and 114 failure modes. The FMEA took approximately 20 person-hours (one physician, three physicists, and two therapists) to complete. The 10 most dangerous failure modes had RPNs ranging from 336 to 630. Corrective actions were effective at addressing most failure modes (10 riskiest RPNs ranging from 189 to 310), yet the RPNs were higher than those published for alternative systems. Many of these high-risk failure modes remained due to hardware design limitations. Conclusions FMEA helps guide process improvement efforts by emphasizing the riskiest steps. Significant risks are apparent when using a Xoft treatment unit for skin brachytherapy due to hardware limitations such as the lack of several interlocks, a short source lifespan, and variability in source output. The process presented in this article is expected to reduce but not eliminate these risks.
PROPERTIES OF RAT PYRUVATE KINASE ISOZYMES

ABSTRACT. Data describing the relationship among six variant forms of the K-isozyme and at least three forms of the L-isozyme of the rat are reviewed. A few physical and kinetic parameters describing these variant forms as well as those of the M-isozyme are presented. It is shown that the pH 6.4 variant of the K-isozyme can exist in a higher and lower molecular weight form depending upon the presence of magnesium ion. Evidence is presented supporting the idea that the red cell enzyme is an L-isozyme variant rather than a fourth isozyme. The kinetic properties of what are believed to be the major in vivo forms of the three isozymes are briefly reviewed. Evidence is presented suggesting that K+ saturation follows a sequential pattern.
Succulent Photosynthetic Organs

A succulent photosynthetic organ typically maintains positive daily carbon balance by having its own water reserve and accompanying high organ water potential. The organ possesses anatomical and physiological adaptations that yield very high WUE, even when it is severed from the root system (Nobel 1985,1988; Gibson and Nobel 1986). Succulence grades into “fleshiness,” which describes leaves having high water capacitance but wilting rapidly when a shoot is severed (Gibson 1982); fleshy organs lack many mechanisms of drought resistance and in warm deserts tend to be drought deciduous structures or occur on short-lived annuals. Therefore, succulence cannot be judged only by measuring the amount of stored water or thickness of the organ (von Willert et al. 1992).
Effectiveness of electrolyzed water as a sanitizer for treating different surfaces.

The effectiveness of electrolyzed (EO) water at killing Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus in pure culture was evaluated. One milliliter (approximately 109 CFU/ml) of each bacterium was subjected to 9 ml of EO water or control water (EO water containing 10% neutralizing buffer) at room temperature for 30 s. Inactivation (reduction of >9 log10 CFU/ml) of both pathogens occurred within 30 s after exposure to EO water containing approximately 25 or 50 mg of residual chlorine per liter. The effectiveness of EO water in reducing E. aerogenes and S. aureus on different surfaces (glass, stainless steel, glazed ceramic tile, unglazed ceramic tile, and vitreous china) was also evaluated. After immersion of the tested surfaces in EO water for 5 min without agitation, populations of E. aerogenes and S. aureus were reduced by 2.2 to 2.4 log10 CFU/cm2 and by 1.7 to 1.9 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively, whereas washing with control water resulted in a reduction of only 0.1 to 0.3 log10 CFU/cm2. The washing of ...
Time and Landscape Geochemistry

It is noted in Chap. 3 that landscape processes occur in technological, ecological, pedological, or geological time—concurrently in most cases. Together, these processes result in the formation and evolution of natural landscapes and the gradual modification of man-made landscapes. This chapter considers some examples of the role of time taken fron environmental geology and geochemistry.
Infra-red technique for cerebral blood flow: comparison with 133Xenon clearance.

AbstractA rapid infra-red optical technique has been developed for the measurement of cerebral blood flow. The method measures optical density changes across the intact skull. during the passage of a bolus of the dye, Cardia-Green (CG). The clearance curves obtained for CG boluses are very short (< 30 sec) in comparison with those obtained with tracers such as 133Xenon (10-30 min) that distribute into cerebral tissue. The volume of distribution of CG is totally intravascular, and the dye is relatively slowly cleared from the body. The important advantages of this spectrophotometric technique are its speed, versatility, and the avoidance of radioactive materials. The differential spectrophotometer used in this study, with trivial modifications, has been used to monitor changes in brain blood volume, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin , and cortical mitochondrial respiratory function, which illustrate the versatility of the technique for neurological assessments.
Sediment Transport by Mud Flows and Turbidity Currents in Continental Margins

Abstract : The long-term scientific goal is to develop sound theoretical models for submarine sediment movement that can be used to predict both the initiation, spatial development, and time duration of mud flows and turbidity currents, as well as the characteristics of the sedimentary deposits that these flows generate in continental shelves and slopes.
Generalized Thermo-Elastodynamics for Polycrystalline Metallic Thin Films in Response to Ultrafast Laser Heating

A generalized thermo-elastodynamic model applicable to investigating single- and polycrystalline metallic films for their coupled thermal-mechanical responses to ultrafast laser heating is presente...
Semi-automated open water iceberg detection from Landsat applied to Disko Bay, West Greenland.

Changes in Greenland's marine-terminating outlet glaciers have led to changes in the flux of icebergs into Greenland's coastal waters, yet icebergs remain a relatively understudied component of the ice-ocean system. We developed a simple iceberg delineation algorithm for Landsat imagery. A machine learning-based cloud mask incorporated into the algorithm enables us to extract iceberg size distributions from open water even in partially cloudy scenes. We applied the algorithm to the Landsat archive covering Disko Bay, West Greenland, to derive a time series of iceberg size distributions from 2000-02 and 2013-15. The time series captures a change in iceberg size distributions, which we interpret as a result of changes in the calving regime of the parent glacier, Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Isbrae). The change in calving style associated with the disintegration and disappearance of Sermeq Kujalleq's floating ice tongue resulted in the production of more small icebergs. The increased number of small icebergs resulted in increasingly negative power law slopes fit to iceberg size distributions in Disko Bay, suggesting that iceberg size distribution time series provide useful insights into changes in calving dynamics.
Learning restricted Boltzmann machines via influence maximization

Graphical models are a rich language for describing high-dimensional distributions in terms of their dependence structure. While there are algorithms with provable guarantees for learning undirected graphical models in a variety of settings, there has been much less progress in the important scenario when there are latent variables. Here we study Restricted Boltzmann Machines (or RBMs), which are a popular model with wide-ranging applications in dimensionality reduction, collaborative filtering, topic modeling, feature extraction and deep learning. The main message of our paper is a strong dichotomy in the feasibility of learning RBMs, depending on the nature of the interactions between variables: ferromagnetic models can be learned efficiently, while general models cannot. In particular, we give a simple greedy algorithm based on influence maximization to learn ferromagnetic RBMs with bounded degree. In fact, we learn a description of the distribution on the observed variables as a Markov Random Field. Our analysis is based on tools from mathematical physics that were developed to show the concavity of magnetization. Our algorithm extends straighforwardly to general ferromagnetic Ising models with latent variables. Conversely, we show that even for a contant number of latent variables with constant degree, without ferromagneticity the problem is as hard as sparse parity with noise. This hardness result is based on a sharp and surprising characterization of the representational power of bounded degree RBMs: the distribution on their observed variables can simulate any bounded order MRF. This result is of independent interest since RBMs are the building blocks of deep belief networks.
2009 Baiyin City,school-age children at high-risk of iodine deficiency disorders results of analysis of urinary iodine

Objective:To understand the Baiyin city,school-age children at risk of iodine deficiency disorders urinary iodine level.Methods:The monitoring points in the five counties were randomly selected 15 primary schools in 1060 cases of children aged 8~10 for urine samples.Results:The high-risk areas of Baiyin iodine deficiency disease of children aged 8~10,median urinary iodine(MUI) for 188.3 μg/L,children,iodine deficiency rate was 26.4%,suitable for 64.6%,and excessive intake of 9.0%.Conclusion:The Baiyin City,iodine deficiency disorders in high risk areas that some children are still in iodine status,coverage of iodized salt should be increased to continue the scientific iodine.
William T. Cavanaugh and Charles Taylor On Western Secularism: A Critical Comparative Analysis

The objective of this paper is to instigate a dialogue between theologian William T. Cavanaugh and philosopher Charles Taylor on the topic of Western secularism. Both criticize what Cavanaugh calls the “myth of religious violence,” that is, the idea that the modern liberal nation-state emerged as an indispensable bulwark against religious war and violence. Under this general agreement, however, there are profound rifts when it comes to their understanding of modernity and secularization. The paper is divided in four sections, retracing step by step the argument deployed in the four chapters of Cavanaugh’s influential book The Myth of Religious Violence: Secular Ideology and the Roots of Modern Conflict (2009). The respective themes of these chapters are (1) the distinction between religious and secular violence, (2) the underlying dichotomy between religion and the secular, (3) the European wars of religion, and (4) the ideological function of the myth of religious violence, which raises the deeper question of the modern secular state’s legitimacy. On all counts, the challenge is to sort through the authors’ agreements and rifts so as to allow the most significant points of contention to be properly focused.
Consensus stability in multi-agent systems with periodically switched communication topology using Floquet theory:

The stability of consensus in linear and nonlinear multi-agent systems with periodically switched communication topology is studied using Floquet theory. The proposed strategy is illustrated for th...
Root-zone carbon and nitrogen pools across two chronosequences of coastal marshes formed using different restoration techniques: Dredge sediment versus river sediment diversion

Abstract Coastal marshes have among the highest rates of soil carbon accumulation of any ecosystem on Earth, yet they are increasingly being lost due to high rates of relative sea-level rise, changes to their hydrology, and other natural and anthropogenic factors. To mitigate some of this wetland loss, restoration strategies in Louisiana have been focused on creating marshes using dredge spoil and diverting river flow into deteriorating wetland basins. Here, we aimed to compare these two different restoration approaches in terms of the development of soil carbon and nitrogen within the root zone (top 30 cm) by examining two chronosequences of newly formed marshes that span 32- and 25-year timeframes—one of which was a series of brackish, created marshes in the Chenier Plain (Sabine; marsh creation), and the other, a series of deltaic, tidal, freshwater marshes in the currently prograding Wax Lake Delta (WLD; sediment diversion). We also assessed the vegetation coverage and the relative chemical stability of the soil organic carbon and nitrogen (refractory versus labile) that has accumulated across these restoration sites. We observed that vegetation coverage initially increased more rapidly in the Sabine marshes, but it was similar to that in the WLD marshes by ~30 years post-establishment. Whereas the soil carbon pool reached similar quantities between the two chronosequences, it increased nearly twice as fast on average in WLD versus Sabine. The density of soil nitrogen closely tracked soil carbon in WLD, but it remained uniform across the Sabine marshes. Refractory soil carbon accounted for 59 ± 12% of the total soil carbon, and the refractory carbon pool increased at a rate that was similar between both chronosequences, despite the characteristic differences in salinity, nutrient input, plant species composition, and mineral sedimentation rates. Overall, our results suggest that marshes formed from sediment diversions in Louisiana have the potential to rival or outpace marshes created using dredge sediment in terms of vegetation and soil organic matter development.
The Morbidity and Mortality of Surgery for Traumatic Brain Injury in Geriatric Patients: A Study of Over 100 000 Patient Cases.

BACKGROUND Geriatric patients have the highest rates of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)-related hospitalization and death. This contributes to an assumption of futility in aggressive management in this population. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of surgical intervention on the morbidity and mortality of geriatric patients with TBI. METHODS A retrospective analysis of patients ≥80 yr old with TBI from 2003 to 2016 was performed using the National Trauma Data Bank. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to compare outcomes between surgery and nonsurgery groups. RESULTS A total of 127 129 patient incidents were included: 121 185 (95.3%) without surgery and 5944 (4.7%) with surgery. The surgical group was slightly younger (84.0 vs 84.3, P < .001) and predominantly male (60.2% vs 44.4%, P < .001). Mean emergency department (ED) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was lower in surgical patients (12.4 vs 13.7, P < .001). Complications (OR = 1.91, CI:1.80-2.02, P < .001) and hospital length of stay (LOS, s = 5.25, CI:5.08-5.42, P < .001) were independently associated with surgery. Intensive care unit (ICU) LOS (s = 3.19, CI:3.05-3.34, P < .001), ventilator days (s = 1.57, CI:1.22-1.92, P < .001), and reduced discharge home (OR = 0.434, CI:0.400-0.470, P < .001) were also independently associated with surgery. However, surgery was not independently associated with mortality on multivariate analysis (OR = 1.03, CI:0.955-1.12, P = .423). Recursive partitioning analysis identified ED GCS and injury severity score (ISS) as prognosticators of mortality following surgical intervention. CONCLUSION Surgical treatment of geriatric patients with TBI is associated with increased complications, hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and ventilator days as well as reduced discharge to home. However, surgery is not associated with increased mortality. ISS and ED GCS are prognosticators of mortality following surgical intervention.
Comparison of transcatheter aortic valve implantation outcomes between normal flow low gradient severe aortic stenosis and normal flow high gradient severe aortic stenosis.

Abstract Background Normal flow low gradient severe aortic stenosis (NFLG-AS) with preserved ejection fraction is the most prevalent form of low gradient severe aortic stenosis. Despite the increased prevalence, the clinical outcomes and management strategy of NFLG-AS remain controversial. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) outcomes of patients with NFLG-AS compared with normal flow high gradient severe aortic stenosis (NFHG-AS). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of 394 patients who underwent TAVI between January 2011 to September 2020. Among 394 patients, 232 patients had NFLG-AS, and 162 patients had NFHG-AS. The primary outcomes included all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. In addition, multiple secondary outcomes were evaluated, including stroke, myocardial infarction, duration of hospital stay, new-onset atrial fibrillation, temporary or permanent pacemaker requirement, major bleeding, blood transfusion, vascular complications, acute kidney injury, hemodialysis requirement, symptom improvement, and repeat hospitalizations due to any cardiac disease. Results The cumulative six months incidence of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality were similar between and NFLG-AS and NFHG-AS (4.32% vs. 5.17%, P = 0.71 and 2.47% vs. 2.59%, P = 0.94 respectively). There was no difference in the rates of stroke, myocardial infarction, duration of hospital stay, new-onset atrial fibrillation, temporary or permanent pacemaker requirement, major bleeding, blood transfusion, vascular complications, acute kidney injury, hemodialysis requirement, and symptom improvement between the two groups. However, patients with NFLG-AS compared to NFHG-AS had more frequent cardiac-related repeat hospitalizations (19.14% vs. 11.64%, P = 0.04%). Conclusion There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality between NFLG-AS and NGHG-AS six months post-TAVI. However, patients undergoing TAVI with NFLG-AS had significantly higher rates of cardiac-related repeat hospitalizations.
Plantation Rhymes: Hip Hop as Writing Against the Empire of Neo-Slavery

The great James Baldwin once remarked, “It is only in his music, which Americans are able to admire because a protective sentimentality limits their understanding of it, that the Negro in America has been able to tell his story. It is a story which otherwise has yet to be told and which no American is prepared to hear.” 2 The story of people of African descent in the United States is one that disputes the idea of the United States being “the home of the free and the land of the brave.” It is the articulation of a perpetual struggle to be recognized and respected as human beings. James Baldwin reminds us that music has always narrated the experiences of people of African descent in the United States. The varying forms of music in the Black musical tradition are linked by common recurring themes that are communicated rhythmically and lyrically.
Words at Work and Play: Three Decades in Family and Community Life

Childhood and family life have changed significantly in recent decades. What is the nature of these changes? How have they affected the use of time, space, work and play? In what ways have they influenced face-to-face talk and the uses of technology within families and communities? Eminent anthropologist Shirley Brice Heath sets out to find answers to these and similar questions, tracking the lives of 300 black and white working-class families as they reshaped their lives in new locations, occupations and interpersonal alignments over a period of thirty years. From the 1981 recession through the economic instabilities and technological developments of the opening decade of the twenty-first century, Shirley Brice Heath shows how families constantly rearrange their patterns of work, language, play and learning in response to economic pressures. This outstanding study is a must-read for anyone interested in family life, language development and social change.
The Psychophysiology of Pain Reduction through Hypnosis

Despite the importance of pain, and the great scientific interest in it, it is surprising how uncertain our knowledge is, both of the psychological nature of pain and about its underlying physiology. Let me begin by a reminder of some of the puzzling problems.
Naive Theories, Development of

A naive theory (also referred to as commonsense theory or folk theory) is a coherent set of knowledge and beliefs about a specific content domain (such as physics or psychology), which entails ontological commitments, attention to domain-specific causal principles, and appeal to unobservable entities. Keywords: knowledge; ontology; causation; domain-specificity; theory of mind; naive physics; naive biology
Safety considerations in the design of Spacelab refrigerator/freezer

A vapor compression refrigerator/freezer has been designed for Spacelab to conduct life sciences experiments. It is equipped with different safety features to eliminate all probable types of failures. The whole Freon loop is enclosed in a second containment so that any leakage of Freon can be contained. The unit is provided with an 'Emergency On' switch to actuate during backup mode which provides the spacecraft power directly to the compressor and the cooling fans while removing the power supply and all normal control elements from the circuit. During this mode, the compressor runs continuously when operating as a freezer (-22 C) and is controlled by a thermostat to cycle when operating as a refrigerator (4 C). It has a push button switch at the front panel to momentarily power the thermometer by a battery to monitor the inside temperature during an emergency. It has a door switch which shuts off the internal cooling fans when the door is opened. All the important critical performance data will be downlinked through a data connector to monitor during mission.
DHTML (Dynamic HyperText Markup Language)

Dynamic hypertext markup language (DHTML) is not a distinct language or technology. It refers to the way HTML, cascading style sheets (CSS), and JavaScript are used together to endow Web pages with interactivity. DHTML is introduced as an abstract notion. Then, the concrete ways in which the technologies that collectively enable DHTML work together to create DHTML are illustrated. The document object model, which allows JavaScript to access and manipulate the HTML and CSS properties that define a Web page, is at the foundation of DHTML. The intertwined evolutionary histories of DHTML, Web browsers, and the document object model are provided. The current capabilities of DHTML are presented in detail, and an indication of the future prospects of DHTML is provided. Keywords: browser object; cascading style sheets (CSS); document object model; HTML (HyperText Markup Language); interactivity; JavaScript
Reactive cellular change: is there an increased risk for squamous intraepithelial lesions?

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in women with reactive cellular change (RCC) cervical smears and compare the results with a control group with within normal limit (WNL) smears. METHODS The study group was comprised of 1000 women with RCC and a control group of 1000 women with WNL cervical smears diagnosed over an 8-month period. Results of the first follow-up (FU) smears were evaluated and compared between the two groups. FU smears with a diagnosis of SIL were reviewed along with the original RCC or WNL smears. RESULTS Six hundred and thirteen women from the RCC group and 640 from the WNL group had FU smears. The mean time to FU was 11.0 and 13.8 months, respectively. FU revealed SIL in 24 of 613 smears in the RCC group (20 low grade [L] SIL and 4 high grade [H] SIL), (3.9%) and in 10 of 640 smears in the WNL group (10 LSIL and 0 HSIL) (1.6%). Fisher's exact test (two-tailed) showed statistical significance (P = 0.014). On retrospective review of the FU smears diagnosed as SIL and their corresponding original RCC or WNL smears, four RCC smears were upgraded to atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS). The remaining diagnoses remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS Women with RCC are more likely to have SIL on a FU smear compared with women with WNL smears (3.9% vs. 1.6%). It is important to emphasize that in the authors' laboratory, the rate of SIL in women with ASCUS is much higher (24%). Awareness of these rates combined with the clinical history may help clinicians determine whether women with RCC require closer FU. [See editorial counterpoint on pages 137-8, this issue.] Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 1997; 81:144-7. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Topological Synthesis of Mobile Backbone Networks for Managing Ad Hoc Wireless Networks

In this paper, we overview our approaches and methods to the topological synthesis and management of Mobile Backbone Network (MBN) based architectures. Such backbone networks are intended to aid in the support of multimedia applications across mobile ad hoc wireless networks. An MBN based ad hoc network employs backbone nodes, operating in a manner similar to that used by base-stations in a cellular network. In contrast with the latter, in an MBN system these nodes are mobile and are selected dynamically to best track the mobility trends of the involved units and best adapt to the environmental topography of the area of operations.Such networks integrate the MBN with ad hoc networking and routing approaches to support non-realtime and realtime multimedia applications. In this manner, network services offer applications a choice of best-effort transport as well as guaranteed end-to-end quality of service (QoS) performance.To design the topology of the mobile backbone network, we incorporate mobileuser location distribution information. We consequently introduce an approach based on the use of pattern recognition techniques in synthesizing cluster regions that serve as key components of the mobile backbone. Intra-cluster and intercluster topology design methods are then used to complete the construction of a reliable backbone network. Simplified hierarchical routing mechanisms are then invoked for distributing flows across the backbone.
Outcomes of regionalized perinatal care in Washington State.

Abstract We evaluated the extent to which the regionalization of perinatal care in Washington State has succeeded in concentrating high-risk pregnancies in technologically appropriate referral centers and in reducing differences in neonatal outcome among hospitals. Of all infants weighing less than 1,500 grams born between 1980 and 1983, nearly 68% were delivered in level III hospitals, although only 24% of all babies are born in these hospitals, indicating that the state is highly regionalized. Neonatal outcomes—as measured by standardized mortality ratios—are similar in level I, II and III hospitals and are not greatly influenced by the rural or urban location of the hospital. The most promising strategy for further reducing neonatal mortality is to decrease the number and proportion of very-low-birth-weight births.
A Silver-Aldehyde Reaction for Studies of Chromosome Ultrastructure

Summary A method is presented for the visualization of structures containing deoxyribonucleic acid at the electron microscope level. This is achieved by the substitution of an ammoniacal silver reagent for leucobasic fuchsin in a Feulgen-like procedure. Tissue aldehydes reduce this reagent to metallic silver, which is deposited at the reactive sites in the form of fine particles. The particles range in size from about 4 mfi downwards to below the resolving power of the microscope used. 3 fixatives have been investigated (buffered osmium tetroxide, formalin, glutaraldehyde) and the special problems encountered with each fixative are discussed. Detailed considerations regarding the preparation and handling of this somewhat unstable staining solution have been described previously (Bryan, 1964). Results obtained from an application of this procedure in an investigation of the ultrastructure of polytene chromosomes are also reported in detail. The fibrillar nature of these chromosomes is depicted more clearly following staining than in preparations resulting from the employment of the more conventional methods in current use. The fibrils are clearly delineated by silver particles and may be grouped into 2 classes. Thus, the finest fibrils are of about 4 mju diameter and they are usually associated in pairs to form units of about 10 m/x diameter. Although there is a predominant orientation of the fibrils composing individual bands, the nature of the association of the 10 m/i units which results in this is not clear. Evidence for the occurrence of similar fibrils in chromatin of interphase nuclei of mammalian origin is also presented. Taken together, the results of the various experiments suggest that this silver procedure may be used to advantage in a wide variety of investigations concerning the ultrastructure of chromosomes and chromatin.
Constraining the geometries of small‐scale heterogeneities: A case study from the Mariana region

A new array-based method for seismic waveform data is developed to detect small-scale heterogeneities in the mantle and constrain their possible locations and sizes. Detecting small-scale heterogeneities using scattered waves has been challenging because scattered phases usually suffer from low signal-to-noise ratios, and determining the shapes of such heterogeneities is even more difficult because of isochronal artifacts. In the proposed method, the problem of the low signal-to-noise ratio is addressed by adopting dual bootstrap stacking, which can detect weak signals even with a limited number of seismic traces, as well as by ensuring reproducibility among multiple events. The locations of detected scatterers and their sizes and shapes are then estimated using a new kind of hierarchical cluster analysis that could minimize the effect of isochronal artifacts. The new method is applied to a previously analyzed data set of Mariana earthquakes to facilitate a comparison with conventional methods. In the mid to lower mantle beneath the Mariana trench region, a total of 39 scatterers are identified via S-to-P scattering, with their potential volumes ranging from <8 × 104 to ∼1 × 106 km3.
First Memories are Nonverbal and Emotional, Not Necessarily Talked about or Part of a Recurring Pattern

Nelson (1993) hypothesized that children must learn to verbalize their memories to retrieve them. Their parents talk with them about the experiences thereby influencing what is recalled. Further, recurrence of events indicates their importance and aids recall. To test these hypotheses, 83 students were asked to recall their first memory and indicate whether they recalled it verbally or nonverbally, had talked or been told about it, and whether it involved recurring events. They also were asked whether the memory involved emotions, because emotionality may enhance recall. Analysis showed that 94% of first memories were nonverbal and 92% involved an emotional event, but only 45% had been talked about and 55% were part of a recurring pattern. Research into nonverbal, first memories of adjusted individuals is needed to understand memory better and to have a comparison for what is recalled in therapy, in lawsuits involving child abuse, etc.
Influences of Fluidic Interfaces on the Formation of Fine Scale Structure by Chaotic Mixing

A numerical model has been developed of two-dimensional chaotic mixing of immiscieble Newtonian fluids. A computationally efficient numerical methodology is employed which is well-suited to complex, evolving interfaces. Mixing was confined to a rectangular cavity with periodically driven upper and lower surfaces. Interfacial forces and the transient flow fields in each phase were considered to assess specifically the influences on interfacial morphology of interfacial tension and phase viscosity ratio under creeping flow conditions. Predicted morphologies are compared to those of solidified specimens synthesized by chaotic mixing in companion studies.