cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The epidemiology of agriculture-related osteoarthritis and its impact on occupational disability.

Background Hip and knee osteoarthritis and undiagnosed chronic joint pain are more prevalent in agricultural workers than other occupational groups, significantly impacting the ability of small farm operators and farm workers to maintain a livelihood. Methods Agricultural risk factors, economic impacts, national and state AgrAbility data, gender, and farm/non-farm prevalence differences of arthritis and joint arthropathy in a Wisconsin farm cohort are reviewed. Results Agricultural workers (primarily male) are at increased risk for developing osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. In Wisconsin, the prevalence rate of osteoarthritis is higher in a male farm vs. a male rural non-farm cohort. Arthritis comprises 10%-12% of the disability referrals to state and national AgrAbility programs. Back pain, joint injury, and orthopedic injury account for another 38%. The ability to perform agricultural job duties is significantly affected by arthritis and lack of access to health care. Obesity is an additional independent risk factor for osteoarthritis in the rural population. Conclusions The agricultural work force is at particular risk for arthritis-related disability. Improved access to health care for diagnosis and treatment can lessen disability. Prevention of arthritis is multi-factorial, involving ergonomic improvements, lifestyle modification to prevent obesity, and adequate medical treatment of arthritis.
Effects of Ligand Halogenation on the Electron Localization, Geometry and Spin State of Low‐Coordinate (β‐Diketiminato)iron Complexes

This contribution explores the influences of incorporating electron-withdrawing CF3 and halide groups into β-diketiminate iron complexes of tetrazene and isocyanide. The synthesis of a new halogenated β-diketimine (LCF3,ClH) was accomplished via two different methods, including a novel microwave-assisted synthesis that improves the yield of the difficult condensation. Treatment of an iron(II) complex of this ligand with reductant and azide gives two diiron complexes with novel tetrazenes as bridging ligands. Structural and Mossbauer data show that the bridging tetrazene is a radical anion. The halogenation of the supporting ligand also influences iron(I) complexes of the type LFe(CNtBu)2, which are low-spin and square-planar with alkyl substituents but high-spin and pseudotetrahedral with halogen substituents. DFT calculations suggest that the changes from halogenation come from a combination of steric and electronic effects, and that the electronic influence of ligand halogenation is minor.
Contemporary Twenty-First Century Assessments of the American Dream

Twenty-first-century studies more explicitly addressed various facets of the American Dream. Klinenberg studied the emergence of living alone as a notable trend, and desirable state, among many in middle-class American life. Deseriewicz focused on the upward striving, conformist collegians at elite American universities and recoiled at their narrow, economic driven-ness. Rank and his colleagues, adopting a more traditional sociological approach, develop a theory of the American Dream for the millennium based on secondary sources and their own extensive interviews. Putnam, inspired by changes in his hometown of Port Clinton, OH, set out to discover what could be done to salvage the lapsing American Dream for Our Kids.
Does bilirubin prevent hepatic steatosis through activation of the PPARα nuclear receptor

Several large population studies have demonstrated a negative correlation between serum bilirubin levels and the development of obesity, hepatic steatosis, and cardiovascular disease. Despite the strong correlative data demonstrating the protective role of bilirubin, the mechanism by which bilirubin can protect against these pathologies remains unknown. Bilirubin has long been known as a powerful antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory actions, each of which may contribute to the protection afforded by increased levels. We have recently described a novel function of bilirubin as a ligand for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), which we show specifically binds to the nuclear receptor. Bilirubin may function as a selective PPAR modulator (SPPARM) to control lipid accumulation and blood glucose. However, it is not known to what degree bilirubin activation of PPARα is responsible for the protection afforded to reduce hepatic steatosis. We hypothesize that bilirubin, acting as a novel SPPARM, increases hepatic fatty acid metabolism through a PPARα-dependent mechanism which reduces hepatic lipid accumulation and protects against hepatic steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Solute solver 'what if' module for modeling urea kinetics.

Background The publicly available Solute Solver module allows calculation of a variety of two-pool urea kinetic measures of dialysis adequacy using pre- and postdialysis plasma urea and estimated dialyzer clearance or estimated urea distribution volumes as inputs. However, the existing program does not have a 'what if' module, which would estimate the plasma urea values as well as commonly used measures of hemodialysis adequacy for a patient with a given urea distribution volume and urea nitrogen generation rate dialyzed according to a particular dialysis schedule. Methods Conventional variable extracellular volume 2-pool urea kinetic equations were used. Results A javascript-HTML Web form was created that can be used on any personal computer equipped with internet browsing software, to compute commonly used Kt/V-based measures of hemodialysis adequacy for patients with differing amounts of residual kidney function and following a variety of treatment schedules. Conclusions The completed Web form calculator may be particularly useful in computing equivalent continuous clearances for incremental hemodialysis strategies.
Does Surgical Hepatitis Lead to Poor Graft Function?: Hepatic neutrophil activation during reperfusion may not contribute to initial graft function after short cold ischemia in human liver transplantation. Ilmakunnas M

Background: Experimental models of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury have implicated a pathophysiologic role for neutrophils in subsequent hepatocellular damage. In human liver transplantation, however, the effect of reperfusion-induced neutrophil activation on initial graft function is not clear. Methods: In 38 patients undergoing liver transplantation, neutrophil CD11b and L-selectin expression, neutrophil count, and plasma lactoferrin levels were measured. To assess changes within the graft during initial reperfusion, samples of blood entering and leaving the graft were obtained simultaneously, and transhepatic ratio calculated (hepatic vein/portal vein; 1 denotes no change, 1 an increase across the liver). Graft steatosis, postoperative liver function, and outcome were recorded. Associations between neutrophil activation markers and outcome measures were evaluated. Results: Substantial hepatic neutrophil activation occurred during initial reperfusion, demonstrated by concomitant L-selectin shedding and CD11b upregulation (transhepatic ratios 0.9 [0.7-1.0]; 1.4 [0.9-1.9]; both P <.001; portal vs hepatic vein]. Simultaneously, hepatic neutrophil sequestration and lactoferrin release occurred (0.3 [0.2-0.5]; 1.7 [1.3-3.4]; both P <.001). Neither cold ischemic time (CIT; median 5 hours 36 minutes) nor hepatic neutrophil activation during reperfusion predicted early graft function, nor was there any association between CIT and neutrophil activation. Conclusions: Despite short CIT, extensive graft neutrophil activation and sequestration occurred. This, however, was not associated with impaired early graft function, suggesting short CIT may protect against severe neutrophil-mediated injury.
Emulation/simulation of PLC networks with the S3F network simulator

Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) are devices frequently used in industrial control systems with tight real time constraints on operations. Using emulation and/or simulation to evaluate the behavior of a network of PLCs is difficult because of the lack of tools that accurately mimic the real-time behavior of such networks. This paper addresses this issue by showing how to tightly integrate instances of a PLC emulator Awlsim with the network simulator S3F, in such a way that emulations and simulation are advancing synchronously in virtual time. We demonstrate fidelity of the approach in capturing the operating behaviour of a PLC network under varied network conditions and stress levels.
Why Women Are Dying From Unsafe Abortion: Narratives of Ghanaian Abortion Providers

In Ghana, despite the availability of safe, legally permissible abortion services, high rates of morbidity and mortality from unsafe abortion persist. Through interviews with Ghanaian physicians on the front lines of abortion provision, we begin to describe major barriers to widespread safe abortion. Their stories illustrate the life-threatening impact that stigma, financial restraints, and confusion regarding abortion law have on the women of Ghana who seek abortion. They posit that the vast majority of serious abortion complications arise in the setting of clandestine or self-induced second trimester attempts, suggesting that training greater numbers of physicians to perform second trimester abortion is prerequisite to reducing maternal mortality. They also recognized that an adequate supply of abortion providers alone is a necessary but insufficient step toward reducing death from unsafe abortion. Rather, improved accessibility and cultural acceptability of abortion are integral to the actual utilization of safe services. Their insights suggest that any comprehensive plan aimed at reducing maternal mortality must consider avenues that address the multiple dimensions which influence the practice and utilization of safe abortion, especially in the second trimester. (Afr J Reprod Health 2013; 17[2]: 118-128). Keywords : Abortion, providers, law, access, reproductive health care
CHROMATOGRAPHY: LIQUID | Column Testing and Evaluation

Chromatographic characterization of liquid chromatography (LC) packing materials is described. Properties assessed in this evaluation such as efficiency, tailing, hydrophobicity, hydrophobic selectivity, methyline selectivity, silanol activity, shape selectivity and steric selectivity are defined and discussed. The most comprehensive published datasets available at the time of writing are used to compare results of the two most important test approaches, model-based evaluation methods and empirical test.
Reducing the cost of humanitarian operations through disaster preparation and preparedness

While there have been claims that disaster preparation and preparedness reduce the cost of humanitarian disaster response, there is little substantiated evidence to support this claim. We investigate this relationship using data from 2002 through 2014 of 71 OECD countries that received disaster assistance. We find that investing in disaster preparation and preparedness has no significant reduction on the cost of emergency response and that it in fact drives up the cost of emergency response in the following year. Additionally, we find no support that investing in disaster preparation and preparedness reduces the number of people affected or the number of deaths resulting from natural disasters. We conclude by discussing these results and provide insights toward future research.
Transhiatal vs. Transthoracic Esophagectomy: A NSQIP Analysis of Postoperative Outcomes and Risk Factors for Morbidity

Both transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) and transthoracic esophagectomy (TTE) are accepted procedures for esophageal resection. We aimed to compare postoperative outcomes between these procedures and identify risk factors for morbidity. A retrospective analysis was performed using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adult patients who underwent THE or TTE between 2005 and 2014 were included. Postoperative morbidity, length of stay, and 30-day mortality were compared. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for complications, and likelihood ratio tests were used to assess whether the effect of each risk factor was different across THE and TTE. A total of 4053 patients were included, 2362 (58.3%) underwent TTE and 1691 (41.7%) underwent THE. TTE was associated with higher incidences of postoperative pneumonia and bleeding requiring transfusion. THE had higher incidences of superficial wound infection, deep wound infection, urinary tract infection, and sepsis. There were no significant differences in occurrence of anastomotic leak (THE 7.6% vs. TTE 9.4%, p = 0.35) or 30-day mortality (THE 2.3% vs. TTE 2.5%, p = 0.63). Female gender, black race, hypertension, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, partially or fully dependent functional status, and an ASA score ≥ 3 were independently associated with postoperative complications. The impact of the risk factors on morbidity was similar across both procedures. THE and TTE have similar incidence of anastomotic leak and 30-day mortality. The impact of gender, race, and patients’ comorbidities on postoperative complications is similar across both types of esophagectomy.
The Structure of Cytochrome c Oxidase: Immuno-Electron Microscopy and Image Analysis of Two-Dimensional Crystals

Cytochrome c oxidase is the terminal component of mitochondrial electron transport and transfers electrons from reduced cytochrome c to molecular oxygen. Energy from this process is coupled to phosphorylation of ADP to produce ATP, and the mechanism by which electron transport energy is coupled to ATP synthesis involves the generation of an electrochemical gradient of protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane. Cytochrome c oxidase participates in the formation of the proton gradient by consuming protons from the matrix space of the mitochondrion during reduction of molecular oxygen to produce H2O [1]. Wikstrom and Saari [2] have proposed that cytochrome oxidase also acts as a proton pump and actively transports protons from the matrix side (M-side) to the cytoplasm-facing side (C-side) of the mitochondrial inner membrane.
Disparities in the Use of Continent Urinary Diversions after Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer.

Background Radical cystectomy (RC) with ileal conduit (IC) or continent diversion (CD) is standard treatment for high-risk non-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Objective Our aim is to study contemporary trends in the utilization of ICs and CDs in patients undergoing RC. Methods Using the National Inpatient Sample 2001-2012, we identified all patients diagnosed with a malignant bladder neoplasm who underwent RC followed by IC or CD. Patient demographics, comorbidities, length of stay (LOS), and in-hospital complications, mortality, and costs were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, Chi square, and t-tests were used for analysis. Results Between 2001-2012, approximately 69,049 ICs and 6,991 CDs were performed. CDs increased from 2001 to 2008, but declined after 2008 (p < 0.0001). Patients of all ages received ICs at a higher rate than CDs (40-59 years: 79.5% vs. 20.5%; 60-69 years: 88.0% vs. 12.0%; p < 0.0001). There was a difference in males vs. females (10.2% vs. 4.0%; OR 2.36) and Caucasians vs. African Americans (9.0% vs. 6.7%; OR 1.49) when comparing CD rates. CD rates were highest in the West, urban teaching centers, and large hospitals (p < 0.001). ICs were associated with higher rates of overall postoperative complications (p = 0.0185) including infection (p = 0.002) and mortality (p < 0.0001). In-hospital costs were greater for the CD group. Conclusions The number of CDs has declined recently. Patients of all ages are more likely to receive ICs than CDs. Gender, racial, and geographic disparities exist among those receiving CDs. CDs are associated with lower rates of in-hospital complications and mortality, but higher in-hospital costs.
Transient Dynamics of Powder Spattering in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing Process Revealed by In-Situ High-Speed High-Energy X-Ray Imaging

Abstract Powder spattering is a major cause of defect formation and quality uncertainty in the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing (AM) process. It is very difficult to investigate this with either conventional characterization tools or modeling and simulation. The detailed dynamics of powder spattering in the LPBF process is still not fully understood. Here, we report insights into the transient dynamics of powder spattering in the LPBF process that was observed with in-situ high-speed high-energy x-ray imaging. Powder motion dynamics, as a function of time, environment pressure, and location, is presented. The moving speed, acceleration, and driving force of powder motion that are induced by metal vapor jet/plume and argon gas flow are quantified. A schematic map showing the dynamics and mechanisms of powder motion during the LPBF process as functions of time and pressure is constructed. Potential ways to mitigate powder spattering during the LPBF process are discussed and proposed, based on the revealed powder motion dynamics and mechanisms.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histopathological Visualization of Human Dural Lymphatic Vessels

In this protocol, we describe a method to visualize and map dural lymphatic vessels in-vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ex-vivo using histopathological techniques. While MRI protocols for routine imaging of meningeal lymphatics include contrast-enhanced T2-FLAIR and T1- weighted black-blood imaging, a more specific 3D mapping of the lymphatic system can be obtained by administering two distinct gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents on different days (gadofosveset and gadobutrol) and subsequently processing images acquired before and after administration of each type of contrast. In addition, we introduce methods for optimal immunostaining of lymphatic and blood vessel markers in human dura mater ex-vivo.
The Poly(A) Sequences in Messenger RNA and Heterogeneous Nuclear RNA

The poly(A) sequences covalently bound both to the heterogeneous RNA (HnRNA) of the nucleus and to the polysome-bound messenger RNA (mRNA) of many eukaryotes (1–3) have provided chemical evidence for the precursor- product relationship long predicted to link these two species of RNA. In addition to permitting new studies of the biogenesis of mRNA in eukaryotes, the poly(A) sequences have provided the basis for techniques for the isolation and purification of both of these classes of heterogeneous RNA molecules. These techniques have allowed us to examine the location and the size of the poly(A) sequences within RNA molecules and to estimate both the number of poly(A) sequences per molecule and the fraction of mRNA and HnRNA molecules that contain poly(A) sequences. Some HnRNA molecules that contain poly(A) sequences have been compared with those that do not.
Random Number Generation for Parallel Computers

Running huge simulational computations on a system of parallel processors requires the generation of uniform random sequences on each processor. Various techniques useful for the generation of parallel random sequences are analyzed for their suitability to parallel architectures.
Tyrosine Fluorescence and Phosphorescence from Proteins and Polypeptides

The fluorescence and phosphorescence of proteins and polypeptides is the sum of the contributions from the three aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and phenylalanine. The work on protein and polypeptide luminescence prior to 1971 has been reviewed in detail by Longworth. Another fine account of the early work, emphasizing tryptophan and tyrosine, is the monograph by Konev. An excellent review on tyrosine fluorescence in proteins and model peptides, for the period up to 1975, is given by Cowgill. In 1984, Creed reviewed the photophysics and photochemistry of tyrosine and its simple derivatives, including a thorough coverage of steady-state fluorescence and a brief discussion of triplet-state properties, but did not include any work on proteins or polypeptides. The first quantitative studies of the excited-state properties of the three aromatic amino acids were carried out in the 1950s. The low-temperature phosphorescence of the aromatic amino acids was initially observed by Debye and Edwards in 1952, and phosphorescence emission spectra were reported by Steele and Szent-Gyorgyi in 1957. In 1953, Weber postulated that the fluorescence of the aromatic amino acids should occur in the near-ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. In 1956, independently and almost simultaneously, Duggan and Udenfriend and Shore and Pardee reported the results of their investigations of protein fluorescence. At the same time,
Chemical coping and efficacy of buprenorphine for cancer pain.

200Background: The management of cancer-related pain is challenging in the age of the opioid epidemic. Patients who struggle with substance misuse or chemical coping use these substances to dull em...
Clinical research and the AMSSM Collaborative Research Network.

> In order for any discipline to be legitimate, it has to create its own body of knowledge. > > Dr Jim Puffer, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (founding member and past president)The value of rigorous clinical research to the field of sports medicine is indisputable. In our data-dominated society, insurers, oversight watchdogs and increasingly even consumers demand much more than ‘we’ve always done it this way’. The recent string of randomised trials showing conservative care to be non-inferior to arthroscopy for degenerative meniscus tears underscores the power of data in shaping medical practice, perception, reimbursement and most importantly, quality of patient care. As we pursue our vision of being a worldwide leader in sports medicine, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) champions high quality sports medicine research through research support, collaboration, education and strategic partnerships. Since its founding in 1991, AMSSM has fostered and showcased excellent research, particularly that involving musculoskeletal care. After many years devoted to building the AMSSM research infrastructure, the AMSSM Collaborative Research Network (CRN) was established in 2016 to enhance clinical …
The coupled dynamics of foam generation and pipe flow

Abstract Foam generation in porous media and foam flow through pipes have been studied extensively to date as uncoupled processes. The coupled dynamics of foam generation and pipe flow, however, are comparatively understudied, despite their importance to industrial applications. We consider an experimental system that generates foam by flowing air and surfactant solution through a bead pack, after which the foam flows through a pipe to a downstream pressure chamber. We systematically vary the foam flow rate, bead diameter, bead pack length, pipe length, and chamber pressure. We measure the corresponding impact on flow pressures, densities, velocities, composition, and textures throughout the system, including direct measurements of bubble diameter distributions. We show that with the proper non-dimensionalization, the generator and pipe flows collapse to surprisingly simple friction-factor relationships. We also show that the mean foam bubble diameter exiting the bead pack decreases with increasing flow rate, up to a minimum value set by the pore length-scale K , where K is the bead pack permeability. We also explore the impact of foam texture and composition on the effective foam viscosities within the pipe. Finally, we show that foam properties evolve within the pipe, such that the pipe and bead pack play equally important roles in determining outlet foam properties.
Should paediatricians initiate orthopaedic hip dysplasia referrals for infants with isolated asymmetric skin folds

Abstract Purpose Asymmetric skin folds (ASFs) have been linked to developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) in select studies, leading to their inclusion in paediatric practice guidelines regarding ...
Teaching Legal Analysis: A Tale from the Front

Legal analysis is the foundational skill of lawyering, and it is at least part of what captivated us as law students. But because legal analysis is as much art as science, explaining it—now as teachers—can be a somewhat elusive process. Inspired by a colleague’s simple but effective presentation at a conference I attended four years ago, and armed with a great textbook, I have embarked on a teaching journey that has been remarkably fulfilling—for my students and for me. While the specific approach I have developed is not earth-shattering, it nonetheless offers some solid techniques and addresses some of the difficulties in cultivating singular focus and intense scrutiny in our millennial law students. I hope that sharing my teaching experience will be helpful to those charged with the task of teaching legal analysis. I note also that the principles explored herein could fruitfully be applied in other contexts. For instance, an abbreviated series of legal analysis exercises deployed in a pre-1L program could provide a wonderful foundation for more effective 1L learning. Similarly, the course content I describe below could be parceled out in academic support workshops or one-on-one meetings, giving the academic support professional a tried and true, turn-key platform to develop students’ analytical skills. This Article will explore four key aspects of the course I have entitled “Mastering Legal Analysis.” The first key aspect is the necessity of introducing (or at least re-introducing) students to the classification of information and the examination of inferences, both of which are essentially ways of figuring out the relationship between the concepts that lurk behind our terminology. Second is the deliberate and thorough deconstruction of the process of legal analysis itself—breaking an often-inscrutable monolith into discrete, manageable tasks. Third is a summary of the overarching strategy and specific techniques by which my students are challenged to move through a wonderfully practice-oriented textbook. Finally, I describe how student engagement in this cumulative process culminates in a longish office memorandum that serves both as proof of the skills they’ve acquired and a template for the union of thinking and communication that will help them in law school, on the bar exam, and in the practice of law.
Effect of Acute Mechanical Circulatory Support on Kidney Function

Over the past two decades acute mechanical circulatory support (AMCS) devices are increasingly being used to support high-risk cardiovascular interventions or cardiogenic shock. The primary hemodynamic objectives for the use of AMCS devices include: (1) providing circulatory support by increasing mean arterial pressure, (2) unloading cardiac workload by reducing left ventricular and/or right ventricular pressures and volumes, (3) increasing myocardial perfusion, and (4) facilitating decongestion of the venous system. In this chapter, we review how each AMCS device achieves these hemodynamic objectives through distinct mechanisms of action and further discuss the impact of these devices on renal function.
Modern Technical Concepts in Surgical Metastatic Disease

The spine is the most frequently affected part of the skeleton by metastases, which accounts for approximately 90% of malignant tumors of the spine. Due to the aging of the population, the incidence of spinal metastases is anticipated to increase, as is the surgical treatment of these tumors. The treatment of spinal metastases, both surgical and medical, has advanced through the years. As the treatment of spinal metastases is mainly palliative, optimal surgical procedures with little morbidity and satisfactory quality of life are preferred. Minimally invasive surgery is therefore currently the most attractive treatment option.
Intranasal leptin prevents opioid-induced respiratory depression

Opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD) is the main cause of death from an opioid overdose. Obesity increases opioid-related mortality, which is mostly related to co-morbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Naloxone, a μ-opioid receptor (MOR) blocker, is an effective antidote, but it reverses analgesia. Similar to obese humans, diet-induced obese (DIO) mice hypoventilate during sleep and develop OSA, which can be treated with intranasal leptin. We hypothesized that leptin reverses OIRD in DIO mice without decreasing analgesia. DIO mice were treated with morphine at 10 mg/kg subcutaneously and with leptin vs placebo intranasally. Sleep and breathing were recorded by barometric plethysmography and pain sensitivity was measured by the tail flick test. Morphine dramatically increased the frequency of apneas and greatly increased severity of hypoventilation and OSA. Leptin decreased the frequency of apneas (Fig. 1), improved OSA and completely reversed hypoventilation, whereas morphine analgesia was enhanced. Our in vitro studies demonstrated that a MOR agonist [D-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) reduced excitatory post-synaptic currents in hypoglossal motoneurons (HMNs) and that application of leptin restored excitatory synaptic neurotransmission to HMNs. Our findings suggest that intranasal leptin may prevent OIRD in obese patients receiving opioids without reducing analgesia.
Geoporn: spectacular reproduction in Olympic Rio de Janeiro

This article proposes geoporn as an analytic lens to examine the ways in which the processes and effects of representing urban landscapes have remained remarkably consistent over several centuries....
Reverse posterior column osteotomy (rPCO) for fixed thoracolumbar hyperlordosis correction: Technique and case report

Abstract Study design Case report. Objectives There is limited literature describing rigid thoracolumbar hyperlordosis correction. This case will highlight the reverse posterior column osteotomy (rPCO) technique to correct rigid thorcolumbar hyperlordosis, which is rarely described in literature. Summary of background data Rigid thorcolumbar hyperlordosis is an infrequently encountered pathology. There is a paucity of surgical approach described in literature to correct this deformity. Methods A 21-year-old female patient with a history of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis presented with cervicothoracic proximal junctional kyphosis and a fixed thorcolumbar hyperlordosis after two previous spine surgeries with the final construct fusing from T3-L4. Results Patient underwent deformity correction involving T3 vertebral column resection and rPCO’s at T12-L3 to correction regional and global sagittal malalignment. Conclusions The rPCO technique can reliably correct fixed thorcolumbar hyperlordosis.
The Evolution of Federal Budget Rules and the Effects on Fiscal Policy: How Informal Norms Have Trumped Formal Constraints

Todays fiscal policy challenges are rooted in the way that fiscal policy rules have evolved over the history of the United States. This paper demonstrates that two shifts of informal norms occurred in the decades surrounding the turn of the 20th century. First, public expectations shifted from requiring a balanced budget to instead using the federal budget to promote economic security at the household level and economic stability at the macro level. Simultaneously, norms for elected office shifted from temporary service to careerism, and the federal government became increasingly professionalized. Both shifts increased demand on the expenditure side of the federal budget while creating fiscal commons problems on taxation and appropriations. Through a series of legislative milestones, Congress codified both shifts into entitlement programs and macroeconomic objectives. The combined effect has been to exert relentless pressure to increase public expenditures through debt finance. Despite four decades of legislative attempts to constrain spending relative to taxes, the informal norms have trumped the formal constraints. Viewed through the lens of public choice economics, fiscal policy rules have evolved into a complex system of incentives that instill a strong bias toward systematically greater deficit spending, whether or not policymakers intend for that outcome to result. Furthermore, by creating intergenerational redistribution, the pattern of deficit spending is morally suspect. Reform discussions must recognize that today s fiscal policy challenges can be met only by addressing these deep changes in federal budget rules.
Implementation of an Analgesia-Sedation Protocol Is Associated With Reduction in Midazolam Usage in the PICU.

OBJECTIVES Examine the association of a revised analgesia-sedation protocol with midazolam usage in the PICU. DESIGN A single-center nonrandomized before-after study. SETTING PICU at a quaternary pediatric hospital (Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA). PATIENTS Children admitted to the PICU who were mechanically ventilated for greater than 24 hours. The preimplementation cohort included 190 eligible patients admitted between July 29, 2017, and February 28, 2018, and the postimplementation cohort included 144 patients admitted between July 29, 2019, and February 28, 2020. INTERVENTIONS Implementation of a revised analgesia-sedation protocol. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Our primary outcome, total dose of IV midazolam administered in mechanically ventilated patients up to day 14 of ventilation, decreased by 72% (95% CI [61-80%]; p < 0.001) in the postimplementation cohort. Dexmedetomidine usage increased 230% (95% CI [145-344%]) in the postimplementation cohort. Opioid usage, our balancing metric, was not significantly different between the two cohorts. There were no significant differences in ventilator-free days, PICU length of stay, rate of unplanned extubations, failed extubations, cardiorespiratory arrest events, and 24-hour readmissions to the PICU. CONCLUSIONS We successfully implemented an analgesia-sedation protocol that primarily uses dexmedetomidine and intermittent opioids, and it was associated with significant decrease in overall midazolam usage in mechanically ventilated patients in the PICU. The intervention was not associated with changes in opioid usage or prevalence of adverse events.
Editorial to the Special Issue "MicroRNA in Solid Tumor and Hematological Diseases".

In the last two decades, the roles of microRNAs in the biology and progression of human cancer have been extensively studied; at present, these small non-coding RNAs are considered powerful gene regulators [...]
A Return to the 'World of Work': An Analysis of California's Prison Job Training Programs and Statutory Barriers to Ex-Offender Employment

This paper seeks to propose ways in which the State of California can help ex-offenders find employment upon their release from prison. In particular, the paper examines California's current prison employment programs and suggests that California should more effectively tailor them to train prisoners for those jobs that are both practically and legally available in California's current labor market. Note: Tables 1-5 for this paper are not included, please contact the author if you would like access to them.
Cyclic deformation and fatigue mechanisms

ABSTRACT The cyclic deformation of monocrystalline and polycrystalline metal of wavy slip mode is briefly reviewed and connected to crack nucleation in long life fatigue by the idea of surface roughening. It is shown that the cyclic deformation of planar slip alloy is closely connected with that of the wavy slip base metal, even to the value of the plateau stress in the cyclic stress-strain curve. It is pointed out that persistent slip bands deform by strain avalanches and the consequences of this for both crack nucleation and propagation are considered. Speculation about ductility exhaustion at a crack tip in less ductile metals is also offered.
Collusion and collective action in the patent system: A proposal for patent bounties

Persistent commentary contends that the Patent Office is issuing patents that appropriate public domain concepts at an alarming frequency. This article describes the forces that have rendered the Patent Office an increasingly porous agency. It next reviews existing proposals for improving patent quality, including the conventional wisdom that an opposition system would contribute meaningfully to the solution of our patent quality problem. This article instead proposes that the Patent Office recruit members of the public to act as private patent examiners. By awarding informants with a bounty assessed against applicants, the Patent Office can reduce the social costs of the patent system.
A Methodological Critique of the Semantic Conception of Theories

A new PhD slated to teach a beginning undergraduate course on scientific reasoning recently asked me to recommend topics. I launched into a description of my ‘babyPopper-plus-statistics’ class—give them enough deductive logic to understand the Duhemian problem, do the Galileo case study, use the notion of severe test to introduce a bit of probability theory, then segue to the problem of testing statistical hypotheses…. My interlocutor was looking impatient. ‘But I’m a strong adherent of the Semantic Conception of theories,’ he said. ‘I can’t teach all that stuff about trying to falsify bold conjectures.’ This was not a moment for proselytizing, so I loaned him a copy of Giere’s textbook, which is based on the Semantic Conception, and sent him happily on his way. However, this episode raises an interesting question, one that takes on some urgency as the Semantic Conception of scientific theories (SC) seems well on its way to becoming the new received view: What accounts of scientific method, confirmation and explanation does the SC support? A major motivation of the Semantic Conception for philosophers was to replace the awkward syntactic account of theories proposed by the positivists, who favoured a formal axiomatic system accompanied by ‘correspondence rules’ or meaning postulates. But since Popper never gave an account of meaning and was never worried about the problem of how to interpret theoretical terms, it might seem that there should be no inherent tension between Popperian methodology and an account of science that views theories as sets of models. Because the Semantic Conception liberates the content of a theory from any particular linguistic formulation, this move might appear congenial to those in agreement with the Popperian dictum, ‘Words don’t matter’. Furthermore, the Semantic Conception’s emphasis on mapping structures that reside in the world also seems to mesh with Popper’s anti-essentialism. Yet I will argue that the overall approach to scientific inquiry that accompanies the SC approach is antithetical to a Popperian account of scientific methodology, which is intended to maximize the role of criticism. Moreover the methodological glosses that commonly accompany expositions of the Semantic Conception are either antithetical to commonly accepted norms of scientific inquiry or hopelessly ad hoc. The points I wish to make are concerned neither with the technical details of the
Shock Loading of Bone-Inspired Metallic Nanocomposites

Nanostructured composites inspired by structural biomaterials such as bone and nacre form intriguing design templates for biomimetic materials. Here we use large scale molecular dynamics to study the shock response of nanocomposites with similar nanoscopic structural features as bone, to determine whether bioinspired nanostructures provide an improved shock mitigating performance. The utilization of these nanostructures is motivated by the toughness of bone under tensile load, which is far greater than its constituent phases and greater than most synthetic materials. To facilitate the computational experiments, we develop a modified version of an Embedded Atom Method (EAM) alloy multi-body interatomic potential to model the mechanical and physical properties of dissimilar phases of the biomimetic bone nanostructure. We find that the geometric arrangement and the specific length scales of design elements at nanoscale does not have a significant effect on shock dissipation, in contrast to the case of tensile loading where the nanostructural length scales strongly influence the mechanical properties. We find that interfacial sliding between the composite’s constituents is a major source of plasticity under shock loading. Based on this finding, we conclude that controlling the interfacial strength can be used to design a material with larger shock absorption. These observations provide valuable insight towards improving the design of nanostructures in shock-absorbing applications, and suggest that by tuning the interfacial properties in the nanocomposite may provide a path to design materials with enhanced shock absorbing capability.
Interdisciplinary and Distance Mentoring in a National Substance Abuse Faculty Development Program.

ABSTRACT Mentoring is an important aspect of professional development, but can it advance substance use disorder skills in a national, interdisciplinary fellowship program? This evaluation study used a telephone survey to examine the influence of distance mentoring, interdisciplinary mentoring, and mentor functions on fellows' satisfaction, learning and academic achievements. Based on responses from 36 fellows (92%), this study found high rates of satisfaction with mentors, learning, skill acquisition, and indications of changes in teaching practice. Group comparisons showed geographic distance was not a significant factor in mentoring outcomes, while same-discipline matches and select mentor functions were associated with more positive outcomes.
Improving Impedance of Implantable Microwire Multi-Electrode Arrays by Ultrasonic Electroplating of Durable Platinum Black

Implantable microelectrode arrays (MEAs) have been a boon for neural stimulation and recording experiments. Commercially available MEAs have high impedances, due to their low surface area and small tip diameters, which are suitable for recording single unit activity. Lowering the electrode impedance, but preserving the small diameter, would provide a number of advantages, including reduced stimulation voltages, reduced stimulation artifacts and improved signal-to-noise ratio. Impedance reductions can be achieved by electroplating the MEAs with platinum (Pt) black, which increases the surface area but has little effect on the physical extent of the electrodes. However, because of the low durability of Pt black plating, this method has not been popular for chronic use. Sonicoplating (i.e. electroplating under ultrasonic agitation) has been shown to improve the durability of Pt black on the base metals of macro-electrodes used for cyclic voltammetry. This method has not previously been characterized for MEAs used in chronic neural implants. We show here that sonicoplating can lower the impedances of microwire multi-electrode arrays (MMEA) by an order of magnitude or more (depending on the time and voltage of electroplating), with better durability compared to pulsed plating or traditional DC methods. We also show the improved stimulation and recording performance that can be achieved in an in vivo implantation study with the sonicoplated low-impedance MMEAs, compared to high-impedance unplated electrodes.
Network service abstractions for a mobility-centric future internet architecture

The increasing composition of mobile devices and mobile applications in the Internet requires us to revisit the traditional principles of fixed, host-centric communications, when designing a next-generation architecture. To support this major shift, we define in this paper a set of basic service abstractions that should be afforded by a future Internet that is centered upon the notion of self-certifying globally unique IDs (GUID) for all network principals - hosts, content, services, etc. alike. We followup with a specific set of network service APIs that provide full access to the proposed abstractions, and implement these on Linux and Android hosts that connect to an instantiation of the future Internet architecture proposal - MobilityFirst [5]. Using performance benchmarks and the implementation of representative use cases we show that the API is flexible and can enable efficient and robust versions of present and future applications.
Double vagina, cardiac, pulmonary, and other genital malformations with 46,XY karyotype.

We have studied two unrelated genetic males with a novel constellation of genital, cardiac, and pulmonary malformations. The genital abnormalities consisted of a true double vagina, retention of Mullerian structures, and undervirilization of the external genitalia. Both infants had complex cyanotic congenital heart defects, hypoplastic right lungs, anomalous pulmonary venous return and abnormalities of the diaphragm. One patient had rhabdomyomatous dysplasia of the lungs. The cause of this malformation pattern is unknown
Toward a More Holistic Understanding of Ethics in Social Work

This paper explores alternative approaches to ethical understanding in social work by applying them to a story of a young woman with AIDS. After presenting the story, I present four perspectives on ethical discernment: the principles approach, virtue ethics, feminist ethics and Afrocentricity. Each approach raises different questions and issues regarding the situation. Together they provide a more holistic discussion and analysis of social work values, beliefs and ethical positions.
The effects of exemplar and prototype descriptors on verbal overshadowing

University of Northern Iowa, USASUMMARYPrevious research has found that providing a verbal description for a face impedeslater recognition ofthat face. The current experiment evaluates how the type of information participants are asked toprovide about the face affects later recognition. Participants provided attribute, exemplar or prototypeinformation about a person they saw commit a videotaped crime. The verbal overshadowing effectwas replicated for participants in the attribute condition. Exemplar participants reproduced thiseffect, while prototype participants performed nearly as well as controls. Theoretical and practicalimplications of the type of information witnesses are asked to provide are discussed. Copyright #2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Antimicrobial Agents on Livestock Waste Emissions

Various antimicrobial agents were evaluated with the purpose of reducing the microbial fermentation in stored cattle waste and the resulting odor emissions. Duplicate sealed 2-L flasks with 500 ml waste slurry, with and without antimicrobial inhibitors, were used to measure the production of short-chain volatile fatty acids, lactate, and total fermentation gas over 27–30 days. A combination of chlorhexidine diacetate (2 mM), iodoacetate (2 mM), and α-pinene (3.8 mM) reduced gas production 80% (1000 ml to 200 ml) and total volatile fatty acid production 50% (145 mM to 72 mM). Pinene had little antimicrobial effect; rather, it served as an effective masking agent, giving the waste a less offensive odor. A combination of chlorhexidine diacetate and the deaminase inhibitor, diphenyliodonium chloride (1.3 mM) had a similar effect in reducing short-chain volatile fatty acid production (145 mM to 80 mM). It is concluded that a combination of antimicrobial agents may be useful in controlling odor emissions and conserving organic matter in livestock wastes, therefore providing a potentially more useful byproduct waste when used as plant fertilizer.
One pastoral perspective on “anticipatory grief: The search for destiny”

I have been asked to respond to this case (Black, 1994) from the pastoral perspective of “soul.” More specifically, the perspective is that of minding the soul as a way of remembering who we are. For in Marcia's being present with Bill and Esther we are privileged to enter into their holy of holies, the inner sanctum of their souls as they found a way of remembering who they were together and individually. First, I will say more about “soul” and its meaning in relation to what Marcia has described. Next, I will briefly sketch an expanded view of the object-seeking frame in which she places it by including meaning-making as the destiny-fulfilling dynamic of all object-seeking relatedness. Finally, I will venture a response to her question of her being their “descendant” and this paper-presentation being their “last legacy.”