cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Appetite regulation. Modern concepts offering food for thought.

PreviewAlthough most scientific research on the mechanisms involved in appetite regulation has been done in animals, cautious application to humans of at least some study results may be valid. Drs Morley and Levine, respected authorities in the field of endocrinology, walk the reader through the sometimes-complex findings and discuss some practical interpretations.
Management of Bladder Diverticula by Transurethral Resection: Re-Evaluation of an Old Technique

Many surgical techniques have been described for bladder diverticulectomy, including extravesical, intravesical or combined procedures. An alternative therapeutic technique not widely recognized is transurethral resection of the diverticular neck. We have used this procedure on 6 patients, either to promote emptying of a diverticulum or to permit adequate endoscopic examination. Each operation was successful and there were no complications. We herein describe this technique and recommend its use in selected patients.
School scene investigators: a collaborative AR game for middle school science inquiry

Did you ever think that you could engage and excite students by sending them to the Principal's office? Imagine you are a middle school student. Your iPhone pops up with an alert. "Go see the Principal right now!" You head down the corridors, down the stairs, and arrive at the front office to find a quick-response code (QR code) with the word PRINCIPAL next to it. You scan it. A picture of your Principal appears on the screen with the text, "Hello." You click to keep reading the onscreen conversation. The Principal says: I just came into my office and found my drawer broken into. I had the answer keys in there to the test everyone is taking! You're always causing trouble and I think you did it. Confess! This is the beginning of School Scene Investigators: The Case of the Stolen Score Sheets--a forensic science mystery game played on iOS devices in a school environment. Students collect forensic evidence to prove their innocence and determine who really stole the answer sheets. As they move around the school, they encounter QR codes that they scan to access game-related information (see Figure 1). In some instances, they converse with a virtual character. At other times, scanning a code means discovering evidence to keep in their virtual inventory. Throughout the game, players are exposed to some basic elements of forensic science, like analyzing fingerprints, hair samples, and other trace evidence. They also work through other problems like interpreting a coded message on a slip of paper and determining whether characters have ulterior motives.
Estimation of Time-Unstructured Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Mixture Models

Change over time often takes on a nonlinear form. Furthermore, change patterns can be characterized by heterogeneity due to unobserved subpopulations. Nonlinear mixed-effects mixture models provide one way of addressing both of these issues. This study attempts to extend these models to accommodate time-unstructured data. We develop methods to fit these models in both the structural equation modeling framework as well as the Bayesian framework and evaluate their performance. Simulations show that the success of these methods is driven by the separation between latent classes. When classes are well separated, a sample of 200 is sufficient. Otherwise, a sample of 1,000 or more is required before parameters can be accurately recovered. Ignoring individually varying measurement occasions can also lead to substantial bias, particularly in the random-effects parameters. Finally, we demonstrate the application of these techniques to a data set involving the development of reading ability in children.
THE FOREIGN-EXCHANGE MARKET

This chapter focuses on the foreign exchange market. The exchange rate is the conversion ratio between two currencies: it tells the ratio at which they can be evenly traded. It also gives the price of foreign currency. Foreign currencies are demanded because they can be used to buy foreign goods and services. The demand for foreign exchange is called a derived demand. As the price of foreign goods depends on the exchange rate, the quantity of foreign currencies demanded changes with the exchange rate. Foreign currencies are supplied by the residents of other countries. Many factors can cause exchange rates to change, including changing tastes and preferences for foreign goods and changing comparative advantage throughout the world. Governments can control the exchange rate through foreign exchange market intervention. Between 1946 and 1973, a period of fixed exchange rates prevailed when intervention acted to stabilize exchange rates. Intervention can be difficult, however, and is not necessarily a long-run solution to fluctuating exchange rates.
On Galois Extensions Satisfying the Fundamental Theorem

Let B be a Galois extension of B G with Galois group G. It is shown that B satisfies the fundamental theorem if and only if B is either indecomposable satisfying the fundamental theorem, or B = B G e ⊕ B G (1 −e) where e and 1 −e are minimal central idempotents in B, and G has order 2. Mathematics Subject Classification: 16S35, 16W20
Participation of African Americans in e-Health and m-Health Studies: A Systematic Review

Abstract Background: African Americans (AA) experience high levels of health disparities for several diseases, yet remain underrepresented in clinical trials and other types of research. The high ownership of smartphones among AA puts them in a unique position to be recruited into e-Health/m-Health interventions. Objective: This article is a systematic review of the participation of AA in e-Health/m-Health interventions, the diseases/health conditions targeted, and the recruitment and retention strategies used. Materials and Methods: A systematic review was done with PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and CINAHL databases, as well as hand searches of 14 journals. The search was restricted to studies conducted in the United States and that were published between January 2000 and June 2016. Twenty-three distinct search terms were used. Results: After removal of duplicates, 565 studies were screened and assessed for eligibility, and 56 met the inclusion criteria. Eight studies had exclusively AA pa...
Multicolor Electron Microscopy for Simultaneous Visualization of Multiple Molecular Species

Electron microscopy (EM) remains the primary method for imaging cellular and tissue ultrastructure, although simultaneous localization of multiple specific molecules continues to be a challenge for EM. We present a method for obtaining multicolor EM views of multiple subcellular components. The method uses sequential, localized deposition of different lanthanides by photosensitizers, small-molecule probes, or peroxidases. Detailed view of biological structures is created by overlaying conventional electron micrographs with pseudocolor lanthanide elemental maps derived from distinctive electron energy-loss spectra of each lanthanide deposit via energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy. This results in multicolor EM images analogous to multicolor fluorescence but with the benefit of the full spatial resolution of EM. We illustrate the power of this methodology by visualizing hippocampal astrocytes to show that processes from two astrocytes can share a single synapse. We also show that polyarginine-based cell-penetrating peptides enter the cell via endocytosis, and that newly synthesized PKMζ in cultured neurons preferentially localize to the postsynaptic membrane.
A material-general energy prediction model for milling machine tools

Increasing awareness of energy consumption and its environmental impacts has prompted a need to better predict the energy consumption of various industrial processes, including manufacturing. Modeling can allow manufacturers to optimize the efficiency of their manufacturing processes. Highly accurate, data-driven models of energy consumption of CNC milling have been developed but these models are generated from experimental data and are not generally applicable. If any conditions are varied beyond the experimental parameter ranges, a data-driven model faces challenges in maintaining its prediction accuracy. In this work, two models based on the non-cutting power demand of the CNC machine and the specific cutting energy of the workpiece material are analyzed. These models are then used to predict milling energy consumption of several experimental parts. Both models predicted the total energy consumption of the experimental parts with an average relative total error of less than 3%, which is comparable to datadriven models. Unlike most models, the proposed models presented here can be applied to most workpiece materials.
"Little Fish in a Big Pond: Resource Partitioning, Secondary Identities, and Specialist Competition"

How do specialist organizations compete and secure future growth? Resource partitioning theory suggests specialist organizations occupy a unique niche or resource space established through the deve...
Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of spatio-temporal occupant behaviors on residential building energy usage utilizing Karhunen-Loève expansion

Abstract Occupant behaviors (e.g., switch/dim lights, adjust thermostat, etc.) have a big impact on building energy consumption. However, the occupant behavior in buildings is not well understood and oversimplified. In addition, a majority of current researches just focused on the occupant number variation and ignored the temporal variation (e.g., the occupant presence duration and arrive/leave time). This paper aims to use a whole building simulation program (i.e., EnergyPlus) to investigate the impacts of spatio-temporal occupant behaviors on residential building energy usage utilizing a simple static schedule-based behavior model through uncertainty analysis (UA) and sensitivity analysis (SA). A residential prototype building EnergyPlus model with two thermal zones from the U.S. Department of Energy is used for the case study. The chosen building type is a single-family detached house with three locations in U.S. 3000 EnergyPlus Monte Carlo simulations using a Karhunen-Loeve (KL) expansion based sampling method for each location is conducted. Occupancy behaviors related parameters including thermostat setpoints, occupancy and lighting schedules are randomly perturbed using a KL truncated expansion, which results in a 3.76% overall average coefficient of variation of selected input parameters. UA with such perturbation shows about a 4% impact on the HVAC annual and peak energy consumption, Annual building and HVAC electricity consumption, and hourly peak building and HVAC electricity consumption are selected for the study of impacts of the spatio-temporal occupant behaviors on building energy usage using Sobol and PEAR sensitivity index. SA Results show that thermostats setpoints have big influences on residential building energy usage.
Pediatric Phlebotomy Services: Optimizing Sample Quality and Improving the Patient and Parent Experience

The pediatric phlebotomy staff at every medical institution that serves children and babies meets challenges every day. After all, they are responsible for performing a procedure on one of our largest and most vulnerable populations that is invasive and can cause long-term negative effects, including reduced pain tolerance and avoidance of healthcare as an adult (1). There are effective techniques to improve the overall experience and reduce physiologic and psychological pain during blood collection (Table 1). Time is the primary barrier to using many of these techniques, and utilization rates suffer accordingly. To increase pain management utilization in pediatric patients at the Mayo Clinic, the appointment …
An in depth study of solvent effects on yield and average molecular weight in poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Abstract Poly(3-hexylthiophene) was synthesized by chemical oxidation using FeCl3 in chloroform, dichloromethane, acetonitrile, nitromethane, nitrobenzene and mixtures of these solvents. Comparative reactions for 1 day at room temperature were carried out to investigate solvent effects. Polymer samples and the remaining reaction solutions were analyzed by MALDI-MS and LDI-MS to determine Mw and reaction completeness, respectively. Solubilities of FeCl3, FeCl2, and P3HT in each pure solvent were measured and correlated to the results. Open circuit potentials of FeCl3 and mixtures of FeCl3 and FeCl2 in pure solvents were measured and compared to the experimentally determined oxidation potential of 3-hexylthiophene. An optimized solvent system for reproducible synthesis of high Mw P3HT with quantitative yields is proposed based on MS analysis results.
Providing Quantitative Information and a Nudge to Undergo Stool Testing in a Colorectal Cancer Screening Decision Aid: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Guidelines recommend that patient decision aids should provide quantitative information about probabilities of potential outcomes, but the impact of this information is unknown. Behavioral economics suggests that patients confused by quantitative information could benefit from a “nudge” towards one option. We conducted a pilot randomized trial to estimate the effect sizes of presenting quantitative information and a nudge. Methods. Primary care patients (n = 213) eligible for colorectal cancer screening viewed basic screening information and were randomized to view (a) quantitative information (quantitative module), (b) a nudge towards stool testing with the fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (nudge module), (c) neither a nor b, or (d) both a and b. Outcome measures were perceived colorectal cancer risk, screening intent, preferred test, and decision conflict, measured before and after viewing the decision aid, and screening behavior at 6 months. Results. Patients viewing the quantitative module ...
Iterative Methods in Abstract Fractional Calculus

The goal of this chapter is to present a semi-local convergence analysis for some iterative methods under generalized conditions. The operator is only assumed to be continuous and its domain is open. Applications are suggested including Banach space valued functions of fractional calculus, where all integrals are of Bochner-type. It follows [5].
Engineering a pH-Sensitive Liposomal MRI Agent by Modification of a Bacterial Channel.

MscL is a bacterial mechanosensitive channel that serves as a cellular emergency release valve, protecting the cell from lysis upon a drop in external osmolarity. The channel has an extremely large pore (30 A) and can be purified and reconstituted into artificial membranes. Moreover, MscL is modified to open in response to alternative external stimuli including changes in pH. These properties suggest this channel's potential as a triggered "nanopore" for localized release of vesicular contents such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents and drugs. Toward this end, several variants of pH-triggered MscL nanovalves are engineered. Stealth vesicles previously been shown to evade normal in vivo clearance and passively accumulate in inflamed and malignant tissues are reconstituted. These vesicles are loaded with 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid gadolinium complex (Gd-DOTA), an MRI contrast reagent, and the resulting nanodevices tested for their ability to release Gd-DOTA as evidenced by enhancement of the longitudinal relaxation rate (R1 ) of the bulk water proton spins. Nanovalves that are responsive to physiological pH changes are identified, but differ in sensitivity and efficacy, thus giving an array of nanovalves that could potentially be useful in different settings. These triggered nanodevices may be useful in delivering both diagnostic and therapeutic agents.
The donor lung: Infectious and pathologic factors affecting outcome in lung transplantation

The prevalence of posttransplantation pulmonary infection and the importance of this complication with respect to morbidity in patients undergoing lung transplantation is significant. Over a 1-year period, case histories of all patients undergoing lung transplantation at Barnes Hospital, Washington University, were reviewed to examine the importance of organisms isolated in the donor lung in the development of subsequent invasive infection in transplant recipients. Twenty-eight of 29 bronchial washings (97 %) taken from donors before retrieval grew at least one organism. The most common organisms identified were Staphylococcus and Enterobacter. In 12 of these cases (43%), similar organisms were isolated from the tracheobronchial tree of the recipients, and 6 of these recipients (21%) subsequently had invasive pulmonary infections as a result of the organism originally isolated in the donor. We recommend that antibiotic coverage in transplant recipients should be initiated on the basis of Gram stain results and modified on the basis of cultures obtained from the donor lungs. Pathologic analysis of donor lung tissue taken before transplantation was available in 12 cases. Four donors had histologic evidence of established pneumonia in the donor lung, and infections then developed in the recipients. One other patient who Received a lung that had widespread bone marrow emboli and subsequent infarction later had a complete anastomotic dehiscence. An additional patient had profound early donor lung dysfunction without any evidence of rejection or infection. Pathologic findings from the donor in this case demonstrated preexistent acute vasculitis with emboli. We suggest that as preservation techniques improve, the opportunities for closer scrutiny of donor lung tissue before implantation will become increasing desirable and feasible. ( J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1993;106:614-21)
Handheld computing in law enforcement: A pilot study

Handheld computers are being incorporated into many mobile applications. We explore the application of handhelds in law enforcement field operations. We report on a pilot study in which three officers used a handheld computer with the Project54 system. (4 pages)
Characterization of binary self-assembled monolayers formed from the sequential deposition of 2-naphthalenethiol and octanethiol

Abstract The binary monolayer system of 2-naphthalenethiol (2NT) and octanethiol (OT) was prepared on the surface of Au(111) and structurally characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) in ambient conditions. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted for elemental analysis of the adsorbates present in each monolayer. Both the sequence of deposition and the concentration of the 2NT solution used were varied. The mixed monolayer systems formed various surface structures, including the formation of novel packing of 2NT which are observed when the lower concentration of 2NT is adsorbed onto a pre-existing OT monolayer.
A Multiplex View of Conflict and Team Performance

In this research we develop and test a multiplex theory of conflict that explicitly accounts for the nature of the social relationships between those involved in conflict, and that addresses how th...
Determinants of home range size of imperiled New England and introduced eastern cottontails

In fragmented habitat, population persistence depends in part on patch quality and patch size relative to home range size. The imperiled New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis (Bangs, 1895)) is an obligate user of shrublands in the northeastern United States, a highly fragmented and declining ecosystem. New England cottontail conservation efforts have targeted habitat creation; however, efforts are hindered by a limited knowledge of seasonal space use and its relationship to habitat quality, which could help inform minimum patch size requirements and implications of competition with non-native eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus (J. A. Allen, 1890)). To address these uncertainties, we modeled home range areas for both species as a function of season, patch size, sex, and two indicators of forage and cover availability. Home range was generally inversely correlated with measures of forage and cover resources and the response differed by season and species and did not vary with patch size....
Unsteady two-dimensional analytical model for a thermal time-of-flight flow sensor

Abstract A thermal time-of-flight sensor consists of a resistive element that periodically delivers heat to a flow and two downstream thermocouples that detect the temperature change due to this heat addition. This study presents an analytical solution to the two-dimensional advection diffusion equation in cylindrical coordinates for an axially semi-infinite domain subjected to a time-dependent Neumann boundary condition. The results describe the propagation of heat in the thermal time-of-flight sensor. The finite Hankel transformation and the generalized integral technique are used to solve the governing equation. The analytical temperature profile shows dependence on the Peclet number and on the tube diameter. The derived temperature distribution is compared with measured data from an experimental setup using R134a as the working fluid. The model demonstrates good agreement with the experimental data, with an average relative error of
Writing Hollywood: The Work and Professional Culture of Television Writers

Writing Hollywood highlights the writing process in the production of television drama and comedy series in the U.S. The way writers do their jobs is heavily dependent not only on the demands of commercial business, but also on the uncertainties inherent in a writing career in Hollywood. Drawing on literature in the fields of Media Industry Studies and Occupational Culture, Writing Hollywood explains writers’ efforts to control risk and survive in a constantly changing environment. Using data from personal interviews and a six-week participant observation at a prime time drama, Dr. Phalen analyzes the relationships among writers in series television, describes the interactions between writers and studio/network executives, and explains how endogenous and exogenous pressures affect the occupational culture of the television writing profession.
Cyclosporine Administration and Graft Versus Host Disease: Continuous Intravenous Infusion vs. Intravenous Bolus Dosing

Introduction Continuous infusion (CIVI) cyclosporine (CSA) is an alternative for allograft recipients intolerant of twice daily infusions (TDI). Trough concentrations are an accepted surrogate for monitoring therapy, however total exposure may be dependent on peak concentrations not obtained when given via CIVI. Therefore, maintaining the same trough goals for both routes of administration may lead to decreased CSA exposure and subsequent increased rates of graft versus host disease (GVHD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of acute GVHD and overall survival among patients receiving CIVI vs. TDI CSA. Methods We performed a retrospective study of adult patients undergoing first allogeneic HCT at the University of Minnesota Medical Center between 2011 and 2017 that received > 48 hours of CSA. All patients initially received CSA via TDI per institutional standard and targeted whole blood trough concentrations of 200-400 ng/mL via HPLC. Any change to CIVI was made at the discretion of the treating physician. All patients were changed to oral CSA when able. Patients were grouped according to administration method; those that received cyclosporine via CIVI for > 48 hours at any time during initial transplant admission were classified as CIVI and those that received CSA exclusively as TDI were classified as TDI. Results 308 patients met inclusion criteria (CIVI 42, TDI 266). Donor type, GVHD prophylaxis, underlying diagnosis, and conditioning intensity were similar between groups. The majority of subjects received HLA-matched sibling or cord blood allografts. There were an equal proportion of myeloablative and reduced intensity conditioning regimens, and nearly all GVHD prophylaxis therapy consisted of cyclosporine combined with either mycophenolate or methotrexate. Forty two patients received CSA via CIVI for > 48 hours for a median of 9 days (range, 3-32 days). The average time of change from TDI to CIVI was 3 days after transplant. The TDI group received only TDI for a median 17 days (range 4-62 days) prior to conversion to oral CSA. CSA concentrations at day -1 and weeks 1, 2, and 3 were similar between the groups (Figure 1). We found no difference between the rates of grade II-IV acute (45% vs 53%, p = 0.59) or chronic (17% vs 30%, p = 0.20) GVHD or overall survival (57% vs 67%, p = 0.10) between groups. Subgroup analysis of patients that received myeloablative conditioning did not reveal significant differences in GVHD or overall survival. Conclusion In contrast to previous studies, we did not observe an association of CIVI CSA administration with acute GVHD. Among patients intolerant of bolus CSA infusions, a brief transition to CIVI CSA appears to be a safe and acceptable route of administration without increased risk of GVHD or adverse effects on overall survival.
Pheochromocytoma: 20 years of improving surgical care

Abstract Background Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is now the standard for pheochromocytoma. We report two decades of institutional experience with pheochromocytoma adrenalectomy. Methods A retrospective review was undertaken of pheochromocytoma adrenalectomy patients between 1997 and 2017. Clinical variables and postoperative complications were recorded. Patients were divided into quartiles for analysis: group 1 from 1997 to 2001, group 2 from 2002 to 2006, group 3 from 2007 to 2011, and group 4 from 2012 to 2017. Results Eighty-two pheochromocytoma adrenalectomies were identified. The percentage of laparoscopic adrenalectomies increased over time: 60% in group 1–87.5% in group 4 (p = 0.03). The average tumor size decreased: 6.4 cm (2.8–14.3 cm) in group 1–4.6 cm (1.2–7.8 cm) in group 4 (p = 0.03). ICU utilization decreased from 80% to 40.6% (p = 0.03) and length of stay decreased from 7.2 days to 2.7 days (p = 0.005). Clavien-Dindo grade>3 complications did not differ between the quartiles (p = 0.08). Conclusion Pheochromocytoma care has evolved from more open procedures with standard postoperative ICU stay to a laparoscopic resection with targeted ICU care and decreased length of stay. As experience with laparoscopic adrenalectomy increases, patient outcomes improve.
Morphology of Organic Semiconductors Electrically Doped from Solution Using Phosphomolybdic Acid

The field of organic electronics aspires to enable the fabrication of low-cost, solution-processed optoelectronic devices with unique mechanical, electrical, optical, and chemical properties. Criti...
Optimism is associated with exceptional longevity in 2 epidemiologic cohorts of men and women

Most research on exceptional longevity has investigated biomedical factors associated with survival, but recent work suggests nonbiological factors are also important. Thus, we tested whether higher optimism was associated with longer life span and greater likelihood of exceptional longevity. Data are from 2 cohorts, women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study (NAS), with follow-up of 10 y (2004 to 2014) and 30 y (1986 to 2016), respectively. Optimism was assessed using the Life Orientation Test-Revised in NHS and the Revised Optimism-Pessimism Scale from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 in NAS. Exceptional longevity was defined as survival to age 85 or older. Primary analyses used accelerated failure time models to assess differences in life span associated with optimism; models adjusted for demographic confounders and health conditions, and subsequently considered the role of health behaviors. Further analyses used logistic regression to evaluate the likelihood of exceptional longevity. In both sexes, we found a dose-dependent association of higher optimism levels at baseline with increased longevity (P trend < 0.01). For example, adjusting for demographics and health conditions, women in the highest versus lowest optimism quartile had 14.9% (95% confidence interval, 11.9 to 18.0) longer life span. Findings were similar in men. Participants with highest versus lowest optimism levels had 1.5 (women) and 1.7 (men) greater odds of surviving to age 85; these relationships were maintained after adjusting for health behaviors. Given work indicating optimism is modifiable, these findings suggest optimism may provide a valuable target to test for strategies to promote longevity.
Bioinspired Nanoparticles Engineered for Enhanced Delivery to the Bone.

Targeting therapeutic agents to specific organs in the body remains a challenge despite advances in the science of systemic drug delivery. We have engineered a programmable-bioinspired nanoparticle (P-BiNP) delivery system to simultaneously target the bone and increase uptake in homotypic tumor cells by coating polymeric nanoparticles with programmed cancer cell membranes. This approach is unique in that we have incorporated relevant clinical bioinformatics data to guide the design and enhancement of biological processes that these nanoparticles are engineered to mimic. To achieve this, an analysis of RNA expression from metastatic prostate cancer patients identified ITGB3 (a subunit of integrin αVβ3) as overexpressed in patients with bone metastasis. Cancer cells were stimulated to increase this integrin expression on the cell surface, and these membranes were subsequently used to coat cargo carrying polymeric nanoparticles. Physicochemical optimization and characterization of the P-BiNPs showed desirable qualities regarding size, ζ potential, and stability. In vitro testing confirmed enhanced homotypic binding and uptake in cancer cells. P-BiNPs also demonstrated improved bone localization in vivo with a murine model. This novel approach of identifying clinically relevant targets for dual homotypic and bone targeting has potential as a strategy for treatment and imaging modalities in diseases that affect the bone as well as broader implications for delivering nanoparticles to other organs of interest.
Energy Fluxes in Coastal Trapped Waves

AbstractThe calculation of energy flux in coastal trapped wave modes is reviewed in the context of tidal energy pathways near the coast. The significant barotropic pressures and currents associated...
A factor analytic assessment of the English translation of the neuropsychological vertigo inventory (NVI).

Abstract Purpose Vestibular impairments have been associated with a variety of cognitive deficits, most notably deficits in visuo-spatial memory. The Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory (NVI) was developed to measure self-reported cognitive deficits in patients with dizziness and/or vertigo. The original French language version of the NVI includes 28 items and 7 subscales. The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether the statistical assessment of an English language version supported the presence of the same cognitive constructs as the French version of the NVI. Method The English language adaptation of the NVI (referred to here as the NVIe) was administered to an unselected sample of 280 patients that were being evaluated for dizziness and/or vertigo in a tertiary care dizziness clinic. The individual item scores from the NVIe were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Results The results of the data analysis supported a 22-item NVIe consisting of 4 constructs: affective state, temporal memory, spatial memory, visual spatial cognition. Conclusions The NVIe is a new tool for screening cognitive constructs that may be affected by vestibular impairments. Prior to clinical implementation of the NVIe, additional studies of reliability and convergent validity are needed.
Extension of the Inverse Adding-Doubling Method to the Measurement of Wavelength-Dependent Absorption and Scattering Coefficients of Biological Samples

Light interaction with biological tissue can be described using three parameters: the scattering and absorption coefficients (us and ua), as well as the anisotropy (g) which describes the directional dependence of the scattered photons. Accurately determining these optical properties for different tissue types at specific wavelengths, and simultaneously, would be beneficial for a variety of different biomedical applications. The goal of this project was to take a user-defined g-value and determine the remaining two parameters for a specified wavelength range for an integrating sphere with a collimated white light input source system. A fully automated computer program and process was developed to collect data for all wavelengths in a timely and accurate manner. LabVIEW was used to write programs to automate: raw intensity data collection from a spectrometer equipped integrating sphere, conversion of the data into a format for analysis via Scott Prahl's Inverse Adding-Doubling (IAD) C code execution, and computation of the optical properties based on the output from the IAD code. To allow data to be passed efficiently between LabVIEW and C code program modules, the two were combined into a single program (OPT 3.1). OPT 3.1 was tested using tissue mimicking phantoms and determination of the absorptionmore » and scattering coefficients showed excellent agreement with theory for wavelengths were the user inputted single g-value was sufficiently precise. Future improvements entail providing for multi-wavelength g-value entry to extend the accuracy of results to encompass the complete system multispectral range. Ultimately, the data collection process and algorithms developed through this effort will be used to study actual biological tissues for the purpose of deriving and refining models for light-tissue interactions.« less
Immunoglobulin A Antibody Composition Is Sculpted to Bind the Self Gut Microbiome

Despite being the most abundantly secreted immunoglobulin isotype, the reactivity of IgA antibodies towards each individual9s own gut commensal bacteria still remains elusive. By colonizing germ-free mice with defined commensal bacteria, we found the binding specificity of bulk fecal and serum IgA towards resident gut bacteria resolves well at the species level and has modest strain level specificity. IgA hybridomas generated from lamina propria B cells of gnotobiotic mice showed that most IgA clones recognized a single bacterial species, while a small portion displayed polyreactivity. Species-specific IgAs had a range of strain specificities. Given the unique bacterial species and strain composition in each individual9s gut, our findings suggest the IgA repertoire is uniquely shaped to bind our self gut bacteria.
Meeting Accounting Education Needs for Entrepreneurs: Views of Academicians and Directors of Sbdcs

Incorporating accounting education within entrepreneurship programs continues to invite discussion amongst both accounting and entrepreneurship faculty. The key issue surrounds the type and quantity of accounting education/skills entrepreneurs should have to be successful in their business. Other issues of import include the question of how that education should be transmitted and by whom. This study summarizes results of a survey that captures perceptions of academicians (accounting department chairs and entrepreneurship faculty) and those of directors of Small Business Development Centers (hereafter as SBDCs). Topics investigated include the types of educational programs that would meet the entrepreneur's business needs, content of the education, and who is best poised to offer such an education, etc. Results are varied across groups and are discussed.
Simulating Social-Cyber Maneuvers to Deter Disinformation Campaigns

We develop an agent-based model of a Twitter environment to simulate using social-cyber (BEND) maneuvers to deter a disinformation campaign. We explore the use of the network maneuvers of back, build, and neutralize to manipulate the network and the information maneuvers of excite, dismay, explain, and dismiss to control the narrative. Using belief as a measure of effectiveness, we explore the changes in user behavior and the resulting network. We demonstrate that build is the most effective network maneuver countermeasure for deterrence. The results also show that affecting a tweet’s emotional and logical values through information maneuvers effectively controls the overall network belief.
Sexual Shame and Emotion Dysregulation: Key Roles in the Association between Internalized Homonegativity and Sexual Compulsivity.

Sexual minority men (SMM) are at increased risk for mental health problems due to effects of sexual minority stigma (e.g., internalized homonegativity (IH)). Both IH and emotion dysregulation are c...
Intercomparison of Agricultural Drought Monitoring Products

Agricultural drought is a significant factor in impacting the agricultural yield. It is a big challenge to monitor agricultural drought as it is an abstract concept rather than a measurable variable. A lot of models are invented to capture the sign of its traces. The pros and cons of each product varies case by case. This paper used a combination of the existing cyberinfrastructure to streamline the retrieval, visualization, comparison, and validation of the drought products. Multiple software including GADMFS, US Drought Monitor, and NOAA STAR vegetation health index system have been used to support the workflow. The involved data includes not only the model outputs but also the ground truth data collected onsite. The functions and tools will allow the visualization of the multisource and format-disparate data in one place and facilitate the comparison and validation side by side. The web-based feature permits users to directly manipulate the data without download and software installation. The feedbacks of users show the approach as a promising way in significantly improving the efficiency of model comparison and validation in agricultural monitoring community.
Low Tidal Volume Ventilation Can Result in High Driving Pressure With Low Compliance

Background: ARDS remains a significant problem with high mortality. The only treatments are mechanical ventilation (MV) and proning. However, unintended ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) can increase mortality if MV is set inappropriately. Key mechanisms of VILI are repetitive alveolar collapse and expansion and overdistension. Conventional MV attempts to minimize both mechanisms using lower tidal volumes (VT), typically 6 mL/kg IBW, combined with higher PEEP adjusted by oxygenation and directed by the ARDSnet PEEP/FIO2 protocol. Driving pressure (ΔP) reflects respiratory system compliance (CRS) characteristics. High ΔP correlates with increased ARDS-associated mortality better than higher VT, PEEP, and plateau pressure (Pplat). We hypothesize that using a one-size-fits-all VT (6 mL/kg) will cause an unsafe rise in ΔP with very low CRS associated with severe ARDS. We tested our hypothesis by varying compliance settings on the ASL 5000 test lung and measuring ΔP while maintaining a constant low VT (simulated 6 mL/kg). Methods: The ASL 5000 test lung was first set at CRS of normal lungs, and then lowered to mimic mild, moderate, and severe ARDS. Ventilation was delivered via the Drager Evita ventilator using the volume control-assist control mode with a VT of 400 mL (reflecting current standard of care by simulating 6 mL/kg IBW), RR = 12 breaths/min, and inspiratory time of 1 s. PEEP of 5 cm H2O was set for normal CRS and increased at each level of worsening compliance, consistent with typical settings for mild (8 cm H2O), moderate (10 cm H2O), and severe (14 cm H2O) ARDS. We measured peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) and Pplat and calculated CRS (volume/pressure) and ΔP (VT/CRS). Relationships between variables were measured by Pearson r correlation coefficient. Results: With a one-size-fits-all VT (400 mL), as CRS decreased, PIP increased from15 to 46 cm H2O (coefficient of correlation of r = -0.95), and ΔP increased from 7 to 32 cm H2O (r = -0.92). This suggests that the one-size-fits all VT of 6 mL/kg may cause VILI in patients with very low CRS. Thus, a personalized approach with ventilation adjustments based on patient pathophysiology may be required to further reduce ARDS-related mortality. Conclusions: As expected, we demonstrated that ΔP would decrease at the same VT as compliance increases (P
Building Community By Breaking Out

Location: Dewberry Hall Students today expect to be actively engaged as part of the learning process. They want the opportunity to develop skills required by their future employers, such as problem-solving, collaboration, and building community. Since 2007, escape rooms have become increasingly popular as a form of entertainment and tourist attraction across the globe (Kolar, 2017). Escape rooms engage teams of players in discovering clues, solving puzzles, and accomplishing tasks toward a specific goal in a limited amount of time (Nicholson, 2015). More recently, educators have recognized escape rooms as a game-based learning strategy with the potential to encourage learners “to think differently, unconventionally, and from a new perspective” (Wiemker, Elumir, & Clare, 2015, p. 55). Research indicates that escape games have the potential to build skills such as collaboration, communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, leadership, listening, conflict resolution, and varied social dynamics (Pan, Lo, & Neustaedter, 2017). Additionally, escape rooms can be themed and address any content area, making them appropriate for classroom settings. To capitalize on the escape room model in education, Breakout EDU developed an immersive learning games platform with access to open source materials to support the creation of classroom escape challenges and scenarios for learners of any age. Breakout EDU also developed and sells physical escape kits, or "breakout boxes," that include a variety of components such as reprogrammable locks and multilocks, UV lights, invisible ink pens, and a locking box to simulate an escape room environment. The escape room model has gained momentum in P-12 settings (Chambers, 2018), but use in Higher Education is less evident. As teacher educators, we were first introduced to Breakout EDU at a conference on information technology and teacher education where we participated in several escape challenges and experienced the skills promised in the literature on escape rooms. We implemented Breakout EDU challenges in our own practice with similar responses from our students, particularly related to team-building, engagement, and social dynamics. In this workshop, we provide an opportunity for attendees to participate in a team-based Breakout EDU adventure to unlock the promise of escape rooms for Higher Education. Participants will learn how to integrate game-based learning, through the use of Breakout EDU, into their courses. They will become familiar with the resources available and will discuss ideas for how Breakout EDU can be used in their subject matter.
AEROSOLISED PENTAMIDINE AS SOLE THERAPY FOR PNEUMOCYSTIS CARINII PNEUMONIA IN PATIENTS WITH ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME

Abstract 15 patients with first episodes of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were treated with only aerosolised pentamidine, which they inhaled for 20 minutes every day for 21 days. 13 of the 15 responded to therapy. Mean PaO 2 (mm Hg) and vital capacity (% predicted) were 67·9 and 50·8 before therapy and 80·1 and 67·9 after therapy in patients successfully treated. No systemic side-effects occurred and serum pentamidine concentrations were low in all patients. The only local adverse reaction was cough in 12 patients. Aerosolised pentamidine may be an effective non-toxic treatment for P carinii pneumonia.
Hipertensão pulmonar em pneumopatias crônicas: temos que aprender mais

A hipertensao pulmonar e uma complicacao frequente das pneumopatias cronicas, tais como doenca pulmonar obstru-tiva cronica, fibrose pulmonar idiopatica e apneia do sono. Estima-se que a prevalencia da hipertensao pulmonar em pacientes hospitalizados em decorrencia de doencas respi-ratorias seja de 28%.
Life After a Disastrous Electronic Medical Record Implementation: One Clinic's Experience

The majority of users of an electronic medical record (EMR) at a family medicine clinic located in a small city in the western United States are currently quite dissatisfied with the system. The practice experienced a disastrous implementation of the EMR in 1994 and has not recovered. Although the level of dissatisfaction varies among the practice employees, several influential physicians are pushing to pull the plug and start over with a brand new system. The authors of this case studied this practice during a more comprehensive qualitative study of the impact of an EMR system on primary care. The practices negative experience was particularly noteworthy, because the other four practices in the larger study were satisfied with the EMR system. As with most system failures, there are multiple organizational and other factors that have contributed to the frustrations and dissatisfactions with the use of EMR within this practice.
Andrew Kohut and Bruce Stokes: America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked

Are Americans really that different from people in other countries? If so, in what ways are Americans exceptional? In America Against the World: How We Are Different and Why We Are Disliked, Andrew...
Optimal position estimation for the automatic alignment of a high-energy laser

The alignment of high-energy laser beams for potential fusion experiments demands high precision and accuracy by the underlying positioning algorithms whether it be for actuator control or for monitoring the beam line for potential anomalies. The feasibility of employing on-line optimal position estimators in the form of model-based processors to achieve the desired results is examined. We discuss the modeling, the development, the implementation, and the processing of model-based processors applied to both simulated and actual beam-line data.
Existence and stability of transition layers

For a second order nonautonomous singularly perturbed ordinary differential equation with Neumann boundary conditions, the existence of single transition layer solutions is proved by using the method of Liapunov-Schmidt. The method also gives the stability of these solutions as an equilibrium point of a parabolic equation.