cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DNA Methylation, Early Life Environment, and Health Outcomes

Epigenetics, and especially DNA methylation, have recently become provocative biological explanations for early-life environmental effects on later health. Despite the large increase in papers on the topic over the last few years, many questions remain with regards to the biological feasibility of this mechanism and the strength of the evidence to date. In this review, we examine the literature on early-life effects on epigenetic patterns, with special emphasis on social environmental influences. First, we review the basic biology of epigenetic modification of DNA and debate the role of early-life stressful, protective, and positive environments on gene-specific, system-specific, and whole-genome epigenetic patterns later in life. Second, we compare the epigenetic literatures of both humans and other animals and review the research linking epigenetic patterns to health in order to complete the mechanistic pathway. Third, we discuss physical environmental and social environmental effects, which have to date, generally not been jointly considered. Finally, we close with a discussion of the current state of the area’s research, its future direction, and its potential use in pediatric health.
Local Budget and Tax Policy in the United States: Perspectives of City Officials

The author looks at the results of a survey of city officials; they said that the federal deficit is a problem for cities and that their greatest challenges are unfunded mandates, cuts in aid, and political pressures such as moves to limit taxes. Most city officials said their system of public finance needs at least minor changes.
Management of opioid use disorders among veterans in subacute rehab: Use of an interdisciplinary task force to address an emerging concern

There is both rapidly growing need, and limited evidence-based guidelines, for the management of opioid use disorders in subacute rehab and other nonaddiction medical settings. Following 2 unintentional opioid overdoses within the Community Living Center (CLC), a VA (Veterans Administration) subacute rehab setting, an interdisciplinary CLC Addictions Task Force was created to address a critical issue: how to best meet the combined neuropsychiatric and medical needs of the opiate use disorder patient through a multifaceted treatment approach. The goals of the task force were to develop and institute educational initiatives for providers; create patient care guidelines; increase safety on the unit; improve provider confidence when caring for this high-risk population; and mitigate the risk of unintentional overdose. The task force divided into 4 working groups to meet these aims. Process and outcomes are discussed. We found that in-services by addiction specialists improved clinician comfort in caring for this high-risk patient group. Specific areas that yielded the greatest clinician satisfaction ratings included didactics on how to identify at-risk patients and techniques on how to manage the patient in a general rehab setting. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach, and an iterative process, at all stages was critical to the success of the CLC Addictions Task Force, as it improved buy-in and motivation from all disciplines. Improvements have been made to enhance patient safety, improve communication amongst providers, and provide a foundation to improve patient outcomes. Our preliminary work to enhance the identification and management of opioid use disorders at our CLC is an important first step towards a standardized curriculum that could be applied to other VA and non-VA subacute rehab settings.
Medicare Drug Prices and the Deficit

Central to President Obama's proposal for health care cuts is a plan to require that drug makers offer Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for low-income subsidies for prescription-drug coverage under Part D the same prices offered to the Medicaid program.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF HYBRIDS DERIVED FROM THE SULFUR BUTTERFLIES, COLIAS EURYTHEME AND C. PHILODICE: PHENOTYPIC EFFECTS OF THE X-CHROMOSOME.

Species which exhibit premating reproductive isolation in nature but can interbreed to produce F1, F2, and backcross progeny offer a rare opportunity to study the genetic basis of the species-specific traits which maintain their isolation and make them recognizable as separate forms. The ubiquitous and abundant sulfur butterflies, Colias eurytheme and C. philodice, are morphologically and ecologically similar and were long thought to hybridize at random throughout their large range of sympatry (Hovanitz, 1944). However, Taylor (1972) demonstrated that these species display strong ethological isolation under most natural conditions. Despite this isolation, several investigations (Gerould, 1943; Hovanitz, 1944; and Ae, 195 9) have shown that C. eurytheme and C. philodice retain a large degree of genetic compatibility. This characteristic has been exploited to determine the mode of inheritance of the traits which constitute the species-specific courtship communication systems (Silberglied and Taylor, 1973; Grula, 1978). In the course of this genetic analysis a large number of F1, F2, and backcross progeny were reared in the laboratory and some of their characteristics are described here. In addition, evidence is provided for the existence of X-chromosomal supergenes which exert a very large influence on most of the traits which distinguish the two species.
Malpractice and liability

Negligence and malpractice are two of the most dreaded words to a veterinarian. This article defines the law of negligence and malpractice. Case results are used to explain some of the problems that have arisen in practice. Ideas and methods that the practitioner can use to avoid lawsuits for malpractice and negligence are included.
Complex anatomy of the sphenoid sinus: a radiographic study and literature review.

Objectives Nasal endoscopic approaches to the sphenoid sinus are challenging. Variations in septation, shape, and dimensions have a critical impact on surgical planning of the skull base. Previous anatomical studies have small numbers or a limited description of this complex structure. The present study is a radiographic analysis of the septation and dimensions of the sphenoid sinus. Design and Methods High-resolution surgical-guidance computed tomography images of the sinuses from 90 patients at a tertiary care medical center between 2002 and 2007 were studied. Multiple anatomical measurements from axial and sagittal images were obtained and analyzed with imaging and statistical software. Results Of the 90 patients studied, 9% had presellar, 37% sellar, and 54% postsellar pneumatization. In34%, the posterior extentof the intersinus septum involved thebony covering of the carotid artery. The average presellar width of the sinus was 1.3 cm, the average midline presellar depth was 1.4 cm, and the average infrasellar midline depth was 2.6 cm. Conclusions Approaching the skull base through the sphenoid sinus requires a tailored process based on anatomy. Septal involvement of the carotid artery occurs frequently. Pneumatization patterns are potentially disorienting, and awareness of the sinus’s posterior and lateral extensions is critical.
The effect of cyclopropane, ether, and thiopental sodium upon the over-digitalized heart.

SummaryDogs, digitalized to cardiac toxicity will ouabaine (0.07 or 0.08 mg/kg) or with digitoxin 0.3 mg/kg) were anesthetized with cyclopropane, ether and thiopental sodium.Cyclopropane improved or abolished the arrhythmias produced by digitalis preparations. Ether caused a reversion to normal rhythm. Thiopental sodium exerted no effect upon the electrocardiographic abnormalities of over-digitalized dogs.
Comparing Centralized and Decentralized Institutions: A Reply to Schwartz and Tomz

Schwartz and Tomz (1997) have correctly pointed out an error in our 1987 article: We had neglected to analyze how changes in group composition improve the performance of centralized institutions over time. The change affects only the case of perfect monitoring, however. We argue, moreover, that even in this special context, our main qualitative conclusion-that the centralized structure has no positive advantage over the decentralized onecontinues to hold. We reach different conclusions about the relative roles of the two institutions, partly because we had in mind a positive interpretation, whereas Schwartz and Tomz select a normative interpretation of the issue of institutional choice. Finally, we believe that imperfect monitoring is essential to the theory, in order to derive conclusions that are not driven by artifacts of the model or by arbitrary equilibrium selections.
Cyclic-AMP in the perfused failing guinea pig heart.

SummaryMyocardial cyclic-AMP was measured by Brooker's enzymatic isotopic displacement method and an independent method employing skeletal muscle protein kinase in hearts from guinea pigs with congestive heart failure induced by thoracic aortic constriction, sham operated controls, and normal animals under basal conditions and 15 sec after graded doses of epinephrine. Cyclic-AMP content was 7.4 ± 0.6 (mean ± SE) and 8.2 ± 0.6 pmoles/mg of protein in failing and normal hearts, respectively, under basal conditions. With maximum epinephrine stimulation, values increased to 18.1 ± 0.9 and 16.9 ± 1.5, respectively. There were no significant differences in cyclic-AMP content in failing, compared to normal, hearts at any epinephrine dose. Results indicate that there is no impairment in the overall capacity of the intact, failing heart to synthesize cyclic-AMP in response to exogenous catecholamines.
Shape Anisotropy Study of Nickel and Iron/Cobalt Nanoparticles

Shape anisotropy of Nickel and Iron/Cobalt nanoparticles embedded respectively in gold and Titanium/Nitride thin film matrix on a sapphire substrate has been study. The samples have been fabricated using a pulsed laser deposition. The measurements of magnetic moment per cm2 versus magnetic field at different temperatures (10 K and from 50 K to 300 K every 50 K) and with a magnetic field applied parallel to the sample or perpendicularly have been made in order to determine the coercivity of the material for these parameters. We also report our investigation on the magnetoresistance effect per cm2 , where measurements have been lead for different temperatures (10 K, 100 K, 200 K, and 300 K) and two positions of the sample (parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic field). The comparison of the two cases, magnetic field parallel and magnetic field perpendicular to the sample, has shown that the difference of coercivity between them decreases when the temperature increases for all samples. For gold/nickel monolayer samples the difference varies from 120 Oe at 10 K to 6 Oe at 300 K for coercivities of about 200 Oe to 450 Oe at 10 K depending on the sample to coercivities of about 80 Oe to 150 Oe at 300K depending on the sample. For Titanium-Nitride/ Iron-Cobalt monolayer and trilayers samples the difference of coercivities varies between 10 Oe to 500 Oe depending on the temperature and the sample for coercivities between 30 Oe and 750 Oe. The difference in the percentage of magnetoresistance at 0 Oe is between 5 to 40% for Au/Ni sample and 0% to 10% for TiN/FeCo samples.© 2009 ASME
Analysis and Disposal of the Main transformers′PD Anomaly in Area

In recent years,ultrahigh frequency-PD has developed rapidly.The technology of UltraHigh Frequency-PD was used to test more than 20 220 kV transformers.The test found that one of the transformers′PD anomaly,and combined with some special examination in power cut station.The test diagnosed the casing defect on the transformer and avoided the vicious accident.
Repeaters and Optical Amplifiers

This chapter discusses some components commonly used in optical communication networks. In order to extend these networks to very long distances, optical amplifiers are used to increase gain. However, as the background noise is amplified, there are limitations to this approach. Optical repeaters are used to retime, reshape, and regenerate an optical signal, providing even longer distances than optical amplifiers used alone. The chapter discusses repeater and amplifier technology that is used in combination with WDM. It also discuss all-optical amplifiers, which are capable of directly amplifying whatever optical signal may be present in a fiber without converting it to electronic form. Amplifiers and repeaters are needed to overcome various effects in an optical communication network. It mentions signal degeneration in fiber systems that arises from various other sources. These include nonlinear effects such as pulse spreading due to group velocity dispersion (GVD) (which can be corrected in principle through passive dispersion compensation schemes), polarization mode dispersion (PMD), and other nonlinear effects.
Approaching a Deformity from the Concavity Versus Convexity

The minimally invasive lateral lumbar approach is gaining popularity for treating adult degenerative scoliosis. These patients generally present with chronic back pain, neurological compromise, and spinal deformity in multiple planes. Unfortunately, the traditional open approach for treating these patients has a high morbidity [1, 2]. The lateral lumbar approach can correct adult deformities in both the coronal and sagittal planes with less tissue dissection. These surgeries have been found to have a low complication profile and can provide adequate radiographic correction and improved clinical outcomes for a select patient population [3–16]. Unlike a posterior-only approach, the transpsoas approach requires the surgeon to choose an approach side preoperatively. Most of the studies examining the lateral approach for degenerative scoliosis omit the side of approach relative to the curve apex or approached from either side. Thus, there remains controversy concerning which side, concave versus convex, leads to better corrective ability and reduced complications.
Classification of RNA structure change by ‘gazing’ at experimental data

Motivation Mutations (or Single Nucleotide Variants) in folded RiboNucleic Acid structures that cause local or global conformational change are riboSNitches. Predicting riboSNitches is challenging, as it requires making two, albeit related, structure predictions. The data most often used to experimentally validate riboSNitch predictions is Selective 2' Hydroxyl Acylation by Primer Extension, or SHAPE. Experimentally establishing a riboSNitch requires the quantitative comparison of two SHAPE traces: wild-type (WT) and mutant. Historically, SHAPE data was collected on electropherograms and change in structure was evaluated by 'gel gazing.' SHAPE data is now routinely collected with next generation sequencing and/or capillary sequencers. We aim to establish a classifier capable of simulating human 'gazing' by identifying features of the SHAPE profile that human experts agree 'looks' like a riboSNitch. Results We find strong quantitative agreement between experts when RNA scientists 'gaze' at SHAPE data and identify riboSNitches. We identify dynamic time warping and seven other features predictive of the human consensus. The classSNitch classifier reported here accurately reproduces human consensus for 167 mutant/WT comparisons with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) above 0.8. When we analyze 2019 mutant traces for 17 different RNAs, we find that features of the WT SHAPE reactivity allow us to improve thermodynamic structure predictions of riboSNitches. This is significant, as accurate RNA structural analysis and prediction is likely to become an important aspect of precision medicine. Availability and implementation The classSNitch R package is freely available at http://classsnitch.r-forge.r-project.org . Contact alain@email.unc.edu. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
The Challenge of Controlling for SES in Social Science and Education Research

This article addresses the difficulties of controlling for socioeconomic status (SES) in social science and educational studies. The article reviews the history behind controlling for SES and points out the shortcomings of the research approaches of the past. I then assert that there still remain a number of weaknesses in the ways that are presently and commonly used for controlling for SES. I argue that the field of the natural sciences is well ahead of the social sciences in addressing some of the difficulties in measuring the effects of SES. Among the issues that natural scientists are investigating include the notion of “reciprocal causality” and SES as a “catch all” variable, as well as examining the factors that affect SES. The article examines a number of methods that researchers are introducing to examine the effects of SES in more sophisticated ways. These methods include considering variables that influence SES, taking measures of SES at different points in time, examining intervening variables that act between SES and the variables under study, and other approaches.
Mixing within drops via surface shear viscosity

Abstract A new strategy for mixing inside drops is introduced utilizing the action of surface shear viscosity. A drop is constrained by two sharp-edged contact rings that are differentially rotating. Differential rotation of the rings is conveyed by surface shear viscosity into the bulk fluid, thus enhancing the mixing when compared to the quiescent case. Primarily, mixing was considered in a configuration where one hemisphere is initially at a different concentration than the other. When inertia becomes important, the mixing time is reduced by an order of magnitude compared to the case where the two rings are stationary. Various driving speeds of one ring or counter rotation of two rings are considered for the hemispherical initial concentration. Mixing of a core–shell initial concentration was also considered. This approach to mixing in a drop is found to be an effective containerless mixer and may be utilized in chemical and biological applications where solid-wall interactions are deleterious.
Sex differences in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.

Abstract Background Endogenous sex hormones are important for metabolic health in men and women. Before menopause, women are protected from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) relative to men. Women have fewer cardiovascular complications of obesity compared to men with obesity. Endogenous estrogens have been proposed as a mechanism that lessens ASCVD risk, as risk of glucose and lipid abnormalities increases when endogenous estrogens decline with menopause. While baseline risk is higher in males than females, endogenously produced androgens are also protective against fatty liver, diabetes and ASCVD, as risk goes up with androgen deprivation and with the decline in androgens with age. Scope of Review In this review, we discuss evidence of how endogenous sex hormones and hormone treatment approaches impact fatty acid, triglyceride, and cholesterol metabolism to influence metabolic and cardiovascular risk. We also discuss potential reasons for why treatment strategies with estrogens and androgens in older individuals fail to fully recapitulate the effects of endogenous sex hormones. Major Conclusions The pathways that confer ASCVD protection for women are of potential therapeutic relevance. Despite protection relative to men, ASCVD is still the major cause of mortality in women. Additionally, diabetic women have similar ASCVD risk as diabetic men, suggesting that the presence of diabetes may offset the protective cardiovascular effects of being female through unknown mechanisms.
Fertile ground for community: Inner-city neighborhood common spaces

Research suggests that the formation of neighborhood social ties (NSTs) may substantially depend on the informal social contact which occurs in neighborhood common spaces, and that in inner-city neighborhoods where common spaces are often barren no-man's lands, the presence of trees and grass supports common space use and informal social contact among neighbors. We found that for 145 urban public housing residents randomly assigned to 18 architecturally identical buildings, levels of vegetation in common spaces predict both use of common spaces and NSTs; further, use of common spaces mediated the relationship between vegetation and NSTS. In addition, vegetation and NSTs were significantly related to residents' senses of safety and adjustment. These findings suggest that the use and characteristics of common spaces may play a vital role in the natural growth of community, and that improving common spaces may be an especially productive focus for community organizing efforts in inner-city neighborhoods.
Analysis of injection-induced shear slip and fracture propagation in geothermal reservoir stimulation

Abstract Permeability enhancement via shear slip is commonly accepted as the main stimulation mechanism. However, the mechanism of permeability increase appears to have been understood to be limited to shear dilation and perceived to exclude the propagation in tensile and shear mode of the natural fractures that experience slip. This has led to the claims of the discovery of a new stimulation mechanism, namely, stimulation via wing crack propagation. The root cause of the misconceptions is likely the inability to model natural fracture propagation and coalescence. However, natural fracture propagation in general and wing cracks in particular are to be viewed as an integral part of the shear slip stimulation mechanism because shear slip increases the stress-intensity at the fracture tips, potentially leading to fracture propagation. In an effort to better illustrate the underlying mechanisms in the geothermal reservoir stimulation process, a displacement discontinuity (DD) model is developed and used to simulate secondary crack propagation associated with natural fracture slip. The model uses Mohr-Coulomb joint (contact) elements and rigorously accounts for fracture propagation. The model is applied to explore the conditions conducive to shear and tensile mode fracture propagation. When natural fractures undergo shear slip due to direct and indirect water injection, out-of-plane wing (tensile) cracks form and propagate at injection pressures below the minimum in-situ stress level and turn toward the maximum in-situ stress direction as they grow longer. It was found in our results that the injection pressure is stabilized at approximately the minimum in-situ stress level. The secondary cracks form as wing cracks and/or shear cracks. The predominance of wing cracks and their lengths and propagation paths were found to be controlled by the relative value of differential and mean stresses, natural fracture length, as well as rock and natural fracture frictional properties. In deeper geothermal reservoir with relatively low differential stress conditions and/or high mean stress levels, the shear crack propagation could play a major role in fracture network formation and permeability enhancement.
Lip Cancer: General Considerations

The lips play crucial roles in speech, mastication, swallowing, maintenance of dental arch integrity, and esthetics. Therefore, cancers of the lip can lead to various functional and esthetic problems. Due to their location, lip cancers are easily detected and diagnosed at relatively early stages. As with all pathology of the oral and maxillofacial region, the role of the dental professional in early detection of lip cancers cannot be overemphasized.
Uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis of the domestic hot water usage in hotels

Abstract The water heating system is a major contributor to building energy consumption and carbon emissions in the United States, especially for the Hotel/Motel sector. Various factors in the design and operation stages are found to have great influences on the hot water usage and associated energy usage. There has been an increased number of studies on optimizing the design and sizing of the water heating system in commercial buildings in recent years. However, most of these studies focused on the collection and analysis of the actual data of hot water usage with rare acknowledgments of uncertainties from a variety of influential parameters such as occupant behaviors and operational schedules. The current understanding of the sensitivity of the hot water usage related to these influential factors is still limited. This paper aims to conduct an uncertainty and sensitivity analysis (UA & SA) to investigate the behavior of the domestic hot water (DHW) usage in hotels and its key influencing factors. An EnergyPlus Monte Carlo simulation is performed by using the large hotel building prototype model developed by the U.S. DOE as the baseline model. 161 input parameters ranging from equipment parameters (e.g., size, efficiency, operation schedules, etc.) to occupant behaviors are perturbed using Monte Carlo and Karhunen-Loeve expansion sampling methods. Eight outputs associated with the hot water usage (i.e., the peak/annual whole building water consumptions, DHW system water consumption, DHW system gas consumptions, and DHW system electricity consumptions) are specified as the outputs of interest. Five locations, which are Burlington, VT; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; Houston, TX; and Miami, FL are selected to investigate the influence of the climate condition. 3000 sample EnergyPlus files are created for each location. Two indicators (i.e., the PEAR index, and the variance-based Sobol index) are computed for the sensitivity analysis. It suggests that the SA results from the PEAR index and the Sobol index are very similar in this case study.
The methodological struggles of racial profiling research: a causal question that automobile stop data has yet to answer

ABSTRACTAutomobile stop research finds that citizen race influences officer decision-making. Researchers, however, report methodological issues inhibiting them from drawing causal inferences about ...
Questioning the Questions: An Examination of the "Unpredictable 2004 Bush-Kerry Town Hall Debate

The 2004 Bush-Kerry town hall departed from earlier such debates. The subject matter of questions lacked the highly personal and often parochial quality of those posed in earlier town hall debates,...
Improve the Growth and Yield of Figs by Foliar Nutrition at Post-Harvest

A factorial experiment was carried out by spraying the fig (Ficus carica L.) trees cv. Aswad Diyala at post-harvest in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, in one orchards of Diwaniyah city/ Iraq, with two liquid fertilizers: Azomin and Prosol at 3 levels (0, 3 and 6) g.l-1 and (0, 2 and 4) g.l-1, respectively. The results showed that third level of both fertilizers gave The widest leaf area:{(5.53, 6.42) and (5.52 , 6.38)}m2.tree-1, highest leaf content of chlorophyll{(131.63 ,132.55), (132.63 , 130.93)}mg.100g-1more N percent of leaf {(2.12 , 2.11) ,(2.31, 2.34)}%, highest carbohydrates percent of leaf {(14.65 , 15.10) , (14.83, 15.02)}%, for compounds and seasons, respectively. As for the crop that took place in the 2015 and 2016 seasons gave the highest yield{(20.50, 21.66) (20.80, 21.30)}kg.tree-1, most level of K in the fruit{(280.10, 272.70), (292.40, 288.10)}mg.100g-1 and highest content of anthocyanin{(512.10, 519.90), (482.90, 494.50)} mg.100g-1. There was a significant interaction between the experimental factors, which reached a peak in the third level, in the leaf area in the 2014 and 2015 seasons (5.85 and 6.86) m2.tree-1, and the anthocyanin in the 2015 and 2016 seasons in fruit (518.20 and 534.80) mg.100g-1, respectively. It can be concluded that the post-harvest spraying of Aswad Diyala cv., with the, Azomin and Prosol at the levels of 6 and 4g.l-1, respectively, gave the best results
Unsupervised learning eigenstate phases of matter

Supervised learning has been successfully used to produce phase diagrams and identify phase boundaries when local order parameters are unavailable. Here, we apply unsupervised learning to this task. By using readily available clustering algorithms, we are able to extract the distinct eigenstate phases of matter within the transverse-field Ising model in the presence of interactions and disorder. We compare our results to those found through supervised learning and observe remarkable agreement. However, as opposed to the supervised procedure, our method requires no strict assumptions concerning the number of phases present, no labeled training data, and no prior knowledge of the phase diagram. We conclude with a discussion of clustering and its limitations.
Utility of Pre- and Postoperative Computed Tomography Angiography for the Evaluation of a Complex Vascular Ring:

We present the case of a neonate born with an unusual complex vascular ring formed by a left-sided aortic arch that had retroesophageal course to join a right-sided descending aorta and a very large right-sided arterial ductus from the right pulmonary artery to the descending aorta. Associated finings included aortic arch hypoplasia, aberrant right subclavian artery, and aberrant origin of the left pulmonary artery from the aorta. We focus on the role of computed tomography angiography in the preoperative and postoperative assessment of this complex anomaly.
Family and school: crisis of participation in contexts of vulnerability

The article presents a study conducted with parents, tutors and teachers from two municipal schools of basic education, situated in the region of Valparaiso in Chile, in order to investigate the obstacles that cause a low participation of parents/tutors in schools, with the purpose of creating proposals that facilitate the integration of parents/tutors with the educational center. The qualitative methodological approach, inspired in the interpretative paradigm, was used as a technique of data collection. In-depth interviews were applied to parents or tutors of students with poor academic performance and also to teachers. The conclusions indicate that, from the viewpoint of the parents/tutors, there is a lack of motivation for them to engage in the activities proposed by the school; consequently, their participation is low. Despite it, they describe keeping good relationships with teachers. From the perspective of teachers, there are reports on strategies employed by the school to involve parents and tutors in the school's work and on the need to set limits on the roles played by teachers and their consequent heavy workload.
Mid-Term Outcomes of Thrombolysis for Acute Lower Extremity Ischemia at a Tertiary Care Center

Background Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is challenging to treat because of high morbidity and mortality. Endovascular-first options beginning with thrombolysis are technically feasible with similar results to open surgery. We examined our experience with thrombolysis to identify patients and target conduits that are predictive of improved outcomes. Methods We performed a retrospective review of our institutional database of thrombolysis cases for arterial lower extremity disease. Thrombolysis was the index procedure, and any subsequent treatment was a reintervention. Conversion to open surgery perioperatively such as thromboembolectomy or bypass was considered a technical failure. Primary outcomes included primary patency, secondary patency, amputation-free survival (AFS), and survival. Secondary outcomes included conversion to open, reintervention Results Ninety-nine patients with ALI were treated with thrombolysis from 2007 to 2017. Thrombolysis was attempted on native artery (40%), vein bypass (7%), prosthetic bypass (33%), and stent (19%). Rutherford class distribution was 50% class 1, 41% class 2a, 5% class 2b, and 3% class 3. Technical success was 70%, characterized by an all-endovascular approach, patency at 30 days, and AFS for 30 days. Primary patency at 1- and 2-years was 31% and 22%, respectively. Secondary patency at 1- and 2-years was 39% and 27%, respectively. Overall, 30% required conversion to open surgery at the time of the index procedure, 7% reintervention Conclusion Outcomes in thrombolysis for ALI have not significantly improved 20 years after the STILE trial. Technical success and mid-term patency rates are modest at best. Thrombolysis of vein bypasses and prosthetic grafts have poor technical success and primary patency compared with native arteries. However, aggressive adjunctive interventions during thrombolysis appear to improve primary and secondary patency.
Modeling of Cyber-Physical Intra-Dependencies in Electric Power Grids and Their Effect on Resilience

This paper studies the modeling of cyber-physical dependencies observed within power grids and the effects of these intra-dependencies, on power grid resilience, which is evaluated quantitatively. A fundamental contribution of this paper is the description of the critically important role played by cyber-physical buffers as key components to limit the negative effect of intra-dependencies on power grids resilience. Although resilience issues in the electric power provision service could be limited thanks to the use of local energy storage devices as the realization of service buffers, minimal to no autonomy in data connectivity buffers make cyber vulnerabilities specially critical in terms of resilience. This paper also explains how these models can be used for improved power grids resilience planning considering internal cyber-physical interactions.
Short‐term efficacy of epidural pain management in dogs undergoing cystoscopy

Background The effects of epidural anesthesia in dogs undergoing cystoscopy are unknown. Objective To investigate the effect of epidural analgesia on postcystoscopy pain in dogs. Animals Twenty-six dogs undergoing routine cystoscopy for lower urinary tract disease. Methods Prospective, randomized, blinded observational study. Dogs were assigned either to a treatment group that received epidural anesthesia (preservative free morphine sulfate, 0.09 mg/kg; 1% ropivacaine, 0.2 mg/kg; total volume delivered, 1 mL/4.5 kg of body weight to a maximum of 10 mL; n = 9) or to a nonepidural control group (n = 13). Vital signs were monitored for 24 hours, and sedation and pain scores, behavioral assessments, and presence or absence of complications was evaluated for 5 days postprocedure. Results All dogs tolerated the epidural without complications. Four dogs were removed from the study because of status unblinding, lack of patient cooperation, or incomplete follow-up. No significant differences were noted in postprocedural pain scores in dogs that received epidural analgesia. Significant differences in postprocedural pain scores were noted in the nonepidural control group. No significant differences were noted in vital signs, behavioral assessments, or the proportion of dogs with a 50% increase in pain scores between the epidural and nonepidural groups. Conclusions and clinical importance Epidural anesthesia was well-tolerated. Dogs not receiving the epidural had poor postprocedural pain control. A consistent benefit for the epidural vs nonepidural group could not be identified. Additional studies are required to better assess the impact and efficacy of epidural anesthesia for cystoscopic procedures.
Aletheia: A Lightweight Tool for WiFi Medium Analysis on The Edge

With the plethora of wireless devices in limited spaces running multiple WiFi standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac), gaining an understanding of network latency, loss, and medium utilization becomes extremely challenging. Microsecond timing fidelity with protocols is critical for network performance evaluation and design; such fine-grained timing offers insights that simulations cannot deliver (e.g., precise timing through hardware and software implementations). However, currently there is no suitable efficient, lightweight tool for such purposes. This paper introduces Aletheia, an open-source tool that enables users to select their interested attributes in WiFi frames, quantify and visualize microsecond granularity medium utilization using low-cost commodity edge devices for easy deployment. Aletheia uses selective attribute extraction to filter frame fields; it reduces data storage and CPU overhead by 1 and 2 orders of magnitude, respectively, compared to existing tools (e.g., Wireshark, tshark). It provides flexible tagging and visualization features to examine the medium and perform different analysis to understand protocol behavior under different environments. We use Aletheia to capture and analyze 120M frames in 24 hours at 4 locations to demonstrate its value in production and research network performance evaluation and troubleshooting. We find that WiFi management beacons can consume medium heavily (up to 40%); the common practice of categorizing networks based on environment types (e.g., office vs. home) is problematic, calling for a different evaluation methodology and new designs.
Artificial intelligence for prediction of donor liver allograft steatosis and early post-transplantation graft failure

Abstract Background Donor livers undergo subjective pathologist review of steatosis before transplantation to mitigate the risk for early allograft dysfunction (EAD). We developed an objective, computer vision artificial intelligence (CVAI) platform to score donor liver steatosis and compared its capability for predicting EAD against pathologist steatosis scores. Methods Two pathologists scored digitized donor liver biopsy slides from 2014 to 2019. We trained four CVAI platforms with 1:99 training:prediction split. Mean intersection-over-union (IU) characterized CVAI model accuracy. We defined EAD using liver function tests within 1 week of transplantation. We calculated separate EAD logistic regression models with CVAI and pathologist steatosis and compared the models’ discrimination and internal calibration. Results From 90 liver biopsies, 25,494 images trained CVAI models yielding peak mean IU = 0.80. CVAI steatosis scores were lower than pathologist scores (median 3% vs 20%, P Conclusion The CVAI steatosis EAD model demonstrated slightly better calibration than pathologist steatosis, meriting further investigation into which modality most accurately and reliably predicts post-transplantation outcomes.
Acidosis in Ruminants

Noninfectious diseases of ruminants are more common than infectious diseases. The digestive system is more vulnerable to disorder than any other system. Disorders ranging from stomatitis, choke, bloat, indigestion, intoxications, and displacements are observed in ruminants almost daily. It is doubtful that any animal ever reaches maturity without suffering at some time or another from some kind of digestive dysfunction. Changes in feed are among the most common causes of digestive dysfunction in ruminants. A sudden change of feed components as occurs in feedlot animals, over-feeding during production competition, or preparing animals for competition showing are examples of causes of feeding troubles resulting in acidosis.
Risk Prediction for Local Breast Cancer Recurrence Among Women with DCIS Treated in a Community Practice: A Nested, Case-Control Study.

Various patient, treatment, and pathologic factors have been associated with an increased risk of local recurrence (LR) following breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). However, the strength and importance of individual factors has varied; whether combining factors improves prediction, particularly in community practice, is uncertain. In a large, population-based cohort of women with DCIS treated with BCT in three community-based practices, we assessed the validity of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) DCIS nomogram, which combines clinical, pathologic, and treatment features to predict LR. We reviewed slides of patients with unilateral DCIS treated with BCT. Regression methods were used to estimate risks of LR. The MSKCC DCIS nomogram was applied to the study population to compare the nomogram-predicted and observed LR at 5 and 10 years. The 495 patients in our study were grouped into quartiles and octiles to compare observed and nomogram-predicted LR. The 5-year absolute risk of recurrence for lowest and highest quartiles was 4.8 and 33.1 % (95 % CI 3.1–6.4 and 24.2–40.9, respectively; p < 0.0001). The overall correlation between 10-year nomogram-predicted recurrences and observed recurrences was 0.95. Compared with observed 10-year LR rates, the risk estimates provided by the nomogram showed good correlation, and reasonable discrimination with a c-statistic of 0.68. The MSKCC DCIS nomogram provided good prediction of the 5- and 10-year LR when applied to a population of patients with DCIS treated with BCT in a community-based practice. This nomogram, therefore, is a useful treatment decision aid for patients with DCIS.
Metallurgy, Fracture, Dynamic Loading

A broad range of studies is introduced to emphasize the diverse capabilities of moire interferometry. This work was performed during the last several years at six different photomechanics laboratories. They are at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), University of Strathclyde, University of Washington, Rockwell Science Center, IBM Corporation and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU).
Origin of the Universe

This chapter discusses origin of the universe. In Newton's time, the universe was pictured as an infinite sea of stars in fixed positions. The only movements that astronomers were aware of were those of the planets about the sun and satellites about the planets. Newton argued that the stars were scattered across an infinite expanse of space in more or less fixed positions. In proposing this model for the universe, Newton's attention was focused on the balance of gravitational forces. Einstein's theory of relativity changed our thinking about space and time, but even Einstein did not reject the concept of an infinite static universe despite the inconsistency of this model with his own theory. Hubble's model for the universe was the outcome of research that permitted him to estimate the movement of the stars relative to the Earth. The main way in which such studies are made is by analyzing the light they emit, the distance of different galaxies, and the speed with which they are moving relative to one another. It has been estimated that all matter and energy originated from a single location in the Big Bang about 20 billion years ago. The universe may keep expanding or the expansion may give way to arrest or even contraction. Current indications from measured recessional velocities of very distant supernovas favor the notion of indefinite expansion.
Designing Tests for Better Comparisons

The two-sample tests of Class 7 are not always the best choice. Often, specially designed experiments can be more informative at a lower cost (i.e., smaller sample size). As one might expect, using these more sophisticated procedures introduces trade-offs, but the costs are typically small relative to the gain in information.
The role of nanotoxicology in realizing the 'helping without harm' paradigm of nanomedicine: lessons from studies of pulmonary effects of single-walled carbon nanotubes

Nano-sized materials and nano-scaled processes are widely used in many industries. They are being actively introduced as diagnostic and therapeutic in biomedicine and they are found in numerous consumer products. The small size of nanoparticles, comparable with molecular machinery of cells, may affect normal physiological functions of cells and cause cytotoxicity. Their toxic potential cannot be extrapolated from studies of larger particles due to unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials. Therefore, the use of nanomaterials may pose unknown risks to human health and the environment. This review discusses several important issues relevant to pulmonary toxicity of nanoparticles, especially single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), their direct cytotoxic effects, their ability to cause an inflammatory response, and induce oxidative stress upon pharyngeal aspiration or inhalation. Further, recognition and engulfment of nanotubes by macrophages as they relate to phagocytosis and bio-distribution of nanotubes in tissues and circulation are discussed. The immunosuppressive effects of CNT and their significance in increased sensitivity of exposed individuals to microbial infections are summarized. Finally, data on biodegradation of SWCNT by oxidative enzymes of inflammatory cells are presented in lieu of their persistence and distribution in the body.
Diurnal Changes in a Stream Ecosystem: An Energy and Nutrient Budget Approach

Numerous physical, chemical, and biological processes interact to produce a stream ecosystem. Small streams tend to reflect the conditions of the drainage area and usually are chemically and physically dynamic and biologically rich.
Preparation of School Library Media Specialists in the United States

Recruiting and preparing the next generation of school library media specialists (SLMSs) is a growing concern nationwide. School library media preparation programs are critical to meeting the current shortage of SLMSs in the United States. To determine the status of professional preparation programs for SLMSs, surveys were sent to forty-eight American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library education programs and 155 programs that prepare SLMSs but are not accredited by the ALA. Specifics related to the percentages of students and faculty in this specialization, the fulland part-time status of students, and the numbers of students enrolled were addressed in this survey. The survey further sought to determine the status of distance education opportunities, the internship as part of the school-media curriculum, and recruitment efforts of school library media preparation programs, school districts, state departments of education, and professional organizations.
Upconversion in La F 3 : Tm 3 +

When excited by the 6471-\AA{} line from a krypton laser, blue and uv fluorescence has been observed in La${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$: ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$ at room temperature. The main emission features have been identified as originating from the $^{1}D_{2}$ and $^{1}G_{4}$ levels, reached by a stepwise excitation process. A set of accurate Judd-Ofelt $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ parameters for La${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$: ${\mathrm{Tm}}^{3+}$ has been derived from the measured lifetime of the $^{1}D_{2}$, $^{1}G_{4}$, $^{3}H_{4}$, and $^{3}F_{4}$ levels.
Psychosocial distress is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients.

Objectives/Hypothesis The purpose of this study is to evaluate the levels of psychological distress in head and neck cancer patients using a validated screening tool. We aim to characterize distress in this cancer population and understand the factors driving distress levels. Study Design Review of prospectively gathered data. Methods A review of prospectively gathered data was undertaken from 89 head and neck cancer patients (HNC) who completed the Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DT) from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Results Distress levels were high in the overall population. The level of distress was significantly greater in patients with a self-reported history of depression (P <.001), family concerns (P = .030), emotional concerns (P = .001) and physical concerns (P = .014). Conclusions Psychosocial distress was found to be high in the HNC population. Factors associated with increased distress level included a self-reported history of depression, family concerns, emotional concerns, and physical concerns. Level of Evidence 4.