cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improvement of nalbuphine bioavailability through rectal administration of a prodrug.

(1998). Improvement of Nalbuphine Bioavailability Through Rectal Administration of a Prodrug. Pharmaceutical Development and Technology: Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 131-134.
Developmental guidance of embryonic corneal innervation: roles of Semaphorin3A and Slit2.

Abstract The cornea is one of the most densely innervated structures of the body. In the developing chicken embryo, nerves from the ophthalmic trigeminal ganglion (OTG) innervate the cornea in a series of spatially and temporally regulated events. However, little is known concerning the signals that regulate these events. Here we have examined the involvement of the axon guidance molecules Semaphorin3A and Slit2, and their respective receptors, Neuropilin-1 and Robo2. Expression analyses of early corneas suggest an involvement of both Semaphorin3A and Slit2 in preventing nerves from entering the corneal stroma until the proper time (i.e., they serve as negative regulators), and analyses of their receptors support this conclusion. At later stages of development the expression of Semaphorin3A is again consistent with its serving as a negative regulator—this time for nerves entering the corneal epithelium. However, expression analyses of Robo2 at this stage raised the possibility that Slit2 had switched from a negative regulator to a positive regulator. In support of such a switch, functional analyses–by addition of recombinant Slit2 protein or immunoneutralization with a Slit2 antibody–showed that at an early stage Slit2 negatively regulates the outgrowth of nerves from the OTG, whereas at the later stage it positively regulated the growth of nerves by increasing nerve branching within the corneal epithelium.
Phase Diagrams Map the Properties of Antiviral Agents Directed against Hepatitis B Virus Core Assembly

Assembly effectors are small molecules that induce inappropriate virus capsid assembly to antiviral effect. To identify attributes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) assembly effectors, assembly reaction products (normal capsid, noncapsid polymer, intermediates, and free dimeric core protein) were quantified in the presence of three experimental effectors: HAP12, HAP13, and AT-130. Effectors bound stoichiometrically to capsid protein polymers, but not free protein. Thermodynamic and kinetic effects, not aberrant assembly, correlate with maximal antiviral activity.
Review of Ayn Rand's Book: Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology: Expanded Second Edition

According to Rand`s objectivism, deduction, induction, and concept-formation are all that is needed to acquire objective knowledge. Rand`s "concept-formation" is to first differentiate (or particularize) a set into units and then to integrate (or generalize) over the set. Rand (1990, page 28) limits concepts to a bi-polarity and writes: "The process of observing the facts of reality and of integrating them into concepts is, in essence, a process of induction. The process of subsuming new instances under a known concept is, in essence, a process of deduction." Rand correctly connects induction and deduction with the proclivities of generality and particularity, respectively, but in doing this she turns concept-formation into an empty bi-polarity that holds nothing else but induction and deduction. You can find this book at Amazon: Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology: Expanded Second Edition .
Antibody-Induced Alterations in the Kinetic Characteristics of the Na:K Pump in Goat Red Blood Cells

The kinetic characteristics of the Na:K pump in high potassium (HK) and low potassium (LK) goat red cells were investigated after altering the intracellular cation concentrations. At low concentrations of intracellular K (Kc), increasing Kc at first stimulates the active K influx in HK cells, but at higher Kc the pump is inhibited. These results suggest that in HK cells Kc acts both at a stimulatory site at the inner aspect of the pump and by competition with intracellular Na (Nac) at the Na translocation sites. In LK cells, Kc inhibits the active K influx and the sensitivity of LK cells to inhibition is much greater than the sensitivity of HK cells. Exposure of LK cells to an antibody (anti-L), raised in an HK sheep by injection of LK sheep cells, increased the active K influx at any given Kc. The effect of the antibody was greater at higher intracellular K concentrations, and in cells with very low concentrations of K the antibody had little effect on the pump rate. The failure of anti-L to stimulate the pump in low Kc LK cells was not due to failure of the antibody to bind to the cells. Anti-L combining at the outer surface of the cell reduces the affinity of the pump at the inner surface for K at the inhibitory sites. The maximal pump rate in LK cells at optimal Na and K concentrations is less than the maximal pump rate of HK cells under the same circumstances.
Molecular factors stabilizing protein crystals

Abstract Crystal properties of two proteins, cytochrome c′ and hen egg-white lysozyme, are described in a context emphasizing characteristics of molecular structure important in lattice formation and stability. Major factors involved in lattice formation include protein conformational flexibility and incorporation of structured solvent at crystal contacts. Although protein surfaces provide multiple bonding sites, different crystal forms of lysozyme incorporate similar molecular chains. Molecular chain formation in proteins may be related both to crystal nucleation and development of macroscopic crystal habit.
Health and Functional Efficiency

This essay argues that what is central to Christopher Boorse's biostatistical theory of disease as statistically subnormal part function (BST) are comparisons of the "functional efficiency" of parts and processes and that statistical considerations serve only to pick out a healthy level of functional efficiency. On this interpretation, the distinction between health and pathology is less important than comparisons of functional efficiency, which are entirely independent of statistical considerations. The clarifications or revisions of the BST that this essay offers are friendly amendments that render moot some of the most prominent criticisms of Boorse's account.
Early coronary calcification in children and young adults with end-stage renal disease.

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children and young adults with end-stage renal disease. In our study, we retrospectively analyzed the records of 11 patients who had undergone electron beam computerized tomography in our dialysis unit. Our patients, aged 11 to 24 years (median, 19.3 years) were on dialysis or had functioning grafts. Coronary calcification was observed in seven patients (64%) with a mean calcium score of 273.8 ± 708 (range 0.8 to 1864) in our study population. We compared clinical characteristics like age, gender, duration of end-stage renal disease, time on hemodialysis, body mass index, and blood pressures between the patients with calcifications (group I) and those with out calcification (group II). We also compared the laboratory data including daily calcium and calcitriol intake, lipid profile, serum calcium and phosphorus levels, calcium/phosphorus products, and serum parathyroid hormone levels in the both groups. The mean daily dose of total calcium, triglyceride level, and calcium/phosphorus products were higher in the calcification group though not statistically significant. The mean daily dose of calcitriol was significantly higher in patients with calcification. Using Spearman multivariate correlation, we found a correlation between the coronary calcium scores and mean daily doses of total calcium and calcitriol (r = .750, P =.008 and r = .869, P = .001, respectively). We conclude that coronary calcification, which is a proven predictor of cardiovascular disease, begins at a very early age and that daily doses of elemental calcium and calcitriol seem to be important factors in our study population.
Interactive learning environment: engaging students using clickers.

Abstract Educators continue to search for effective methods that will engage students in their learning. This article presents the integration of clickers using the constructivist approach to foster critical thinking while engaging learners in a large classroom setting. A 22-item survey was used to measure the perceived value by students to the use of clickers in engaging them in the learning process and fostering critical thinking. Clickers, also known as personal response systems, created an interactive environment, moving students beyond simple recall to application, analysis, and construction of knowledge.
THE TARSUS OF UKHAATHERIUM NESSOVI (EUTHERIA, MAMMALIA) FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF MONGOLIA: AN APPRAISAL OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE ANKLE IN BASAL THERIANS

Abstract The recently discovered Cretaceous asioryctithere Ukhaatherium nessovi, represented by three individuals with virtually complete postcrania, shows basal character states for Eutheria, that were previously only partially known from the fragmentary postcranium of Asioryctes nemegetensis. A new suite of ankle characters is revealed. This suite renders characters previously considered as present in the hypothetical common ancestor of eutherians, as diagnostic of a more nested group in the mammalian tree. Some possible primitive retentions preserved in one or both asioryctitheres are the absence of a pulley-shaped astragalar trochlea, fibula only slightly encasing the astragalus laterally, absence of an anterior plantar tubercle on the calcaneum, and presence of a ventrally curved tuber calcis (straight in most other eutherians). A set of characters in the ankle joints were plotted on a phylogenetic tree of basal therian taxa, including among others, the mentioned asioryctitheres, Vincelestes neuqueni...
The American Red Cross Training System for Preparing Disaster Health Services Personnel

Disaster relief and the spirit of volunteerism have been inextricably interwoven with the design and development of Red Cross societies around the world. The American Red Cross is one of 131 members of an international federation of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the League of Red Cross Societies. Societies are chartered by their own governments and conduct programs in the fields of health, welfare, and safety in accordance with each nation's needs.
Performance analysis of an integrated GPS/inertial attitude determination system

The performance of an integrated GPS/inertial attitude determination system is investigated using a linear covariance analysis. The principles of GPS interferometry are reviewed, and the major error sources of both interferometers and gyroscopes are discussed and modeled. A new figure of merit, attitude dilution of precision (ADOP), is defined for two possible GPS attitude determination methods, namely single difference and double difference interferometry. Based on this figure of merit, a satellite selection scheme is proposed. The performance of the integrated GPS/inertial attitude determination system is determined using a linear covariance analysis. Based on this analysis, it is concluded that the baseline errors (i.e., knowledge of the GPS interferometer baseline relative to the vehicle coordinate system) are the limiting factor in system performance. By reducing baseline errors, it should be possible to use lower quality gyroscopes without significantly reducing performance. For the cases considered, single difference interferometry is only marginally better than double difference interferometry. Finally, the performance of the system is found to be relatively insensitive to the satellite selection technique.
A human factors approach to improving electronic performance measurement of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis

Objective In 2011, our institution developed a venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis order set to monitor prophylaxis management through physician-generated risk assessment orders. Prophylaxis rates obtained using the risk assessment orders were falsely low compared with chart review. Our goal was to redesign the order set to increase the percentage of VTE risk assessments ordered, both to improve care and to better reflect performance. Design Quality Improvement Project. Setting Veterans Health Administration. Participants Patients admitted to acute care and intensive care medical units. Interventions Process analysis was used to identify systems failures limiting use of the original order set. The order set was redesigned using a human factors approach. Main Outcome Measure VTE risk assessment orders. Results The order set was redesigned to reduce complexity and improve integration into provider workflow. The rate of risk assessment orders placed within 24 h increased from 48.6 to 80.4% ( P < 0.001). There was no difference in the actual use of prophylaxis. However, for patients on prophylaxis, the rates of having a documented ‘moderate’ or ‘high’ risk assessment within 24 h increased from 66.7 to 95.7% ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Using human factor principles to redesign an order set led to a significant increase in the percentage of patients with a risk assessment order placed within 24 h of admission. Although the risk assessments using the redesigned order set better reflected physician performance, it remained an imperfect measure for VTE prophylaxis. New technology used to measure human performance must be evaluated following implementation to assess accuracy.
Foreign Assistance and Intervention: The Role of the USAID in Colombia

In this paper I want to show how theideology of development was used as a tool tointervene in Colombia's internal affairs. Through an analysis of the narrative ofdevelopment I show that USAID was the apparatusof power used to convey American's ideology ofsecurity and how development and foreignassistance were placed outside the law,therefore, without the possibility of judicialcheck.
The Historiography of a Centenarian Field: Contexts and the History of Political Science

This paper reviews the historiography of political science. Changes within the institutions in which political scientists are trained, employed, and interact, and in associated scholarly identities, are primary contexts informing the changing ways in which political scientists conceive and narrate their collective past. In elaborating this point in the first two thirds of this paper, I situate histories of political science in relation to the history of political science, or in other words, I historically contextualize our historical contextualizers. The last third of the paper shifts onto the terrain of historiographical standards. Recent changes in the substance of histories of political science have outrun the state of our reflection about how such histories should be written. I revisit issues raised during a earlier wave of explicit discussion at this level, from the late 1980s into the 1990s, to update positions on two intertwined issues: what it means to be “historical,” and the use of “internal” vs. “external” contexts.
How Herzog remembers images past: a response to Catherine Lord

This is a reply to:Lord, Catherine. 2016. “Only connect: ecology between ‘late’ Latour and Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams.” Global Discourse 6 (1–2): 119–132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23269995.2015.1011865
Evaluation of Commercially Available Fluid-Warming Devices for Use in Forward Surgical and Combat Areas

ABSTRACT The fluid-warming capabilities of four individual fluid warmers, i.e., Level 1, FMS 2000, Thermal Angel, and Ranger, were compared to evaluate their potential for medical use in forward military echelons of care. Lactated Ringer's solution (LR) and Hextend at room temperature (20°C) or refrigerated temperature (4–7°C) and packed red blood cells at 4°C to 7°C were used with each warmer at two different flow rates. The FMS 2000 consistently warmed all fluids to approximately 37°C, regardless of the starting temperature or flow rate. The Level 1 and Ranger also efficiently warmed all fluids except cold LR to approximately 37°C. The Thermal Angel generally warmed room temperature fluid, cold Hextend, and packed red blood cells to at least 33°C to 34°C but could not warm cold LR. The clinical standard is to have fluids warmed to 32°C at a minimum and more preferably to 34°C to 35°C. Of the fluid warmers tested, only the Thermal Angel failed to achieve such a temperature in warming cold LR. Data from t...
Passive Turbulence Generating Grid Arrangements in a Turbine Cascade Wind Tunnel

Abstract : Turbine cascade wind tunnels simulate Reynolds number and turbulence for the examination of flow phenomena such as boundary layer separation on the trailing portion of low pressure turbine blades. Axial chord-based Reynolds numbers considered in this study were 50k and 100k. Various passive, square-bar turbulence generating grid arrangements were explored to simulate turbulence in a turbine cascade test-section inlet, including two grid orientations: perpendicular to the inlet flow and parallel to the turbine cascade. A novel T-Bar turbulence grid configuration oriented parallel to the cascade was shown to produce better test section inlet flowfield uniformity than that produced by a perpendicular mesh grid. Improved periodicity in blade-to-blade surface pressure coefficient profiles was also observed with the parallel T-Bar grid.
PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF CH3I ADSORBED ON AL2O3(0001)

The photochemistry of CH3I adsorbed on Al2O3(0001) was studied using ultraviolet laser pulses at 266 nm. Desorbing photoproducts were detected using a mass spectrometer during photoexposure, and su...
Lessons Learned from Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus in Animal Models

Mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV), which was discovered as a milk-transmitted, infectious, cancer-inducing agent in the 1930s, has been used as an animal model for the study of retroviral infection and transmission, antiviral immune responses, and breast cancer and lymphoma biology. The main target cells for MMTV infection in vivo are cells of the immune system and mammary epithelial cells. Although the host mounts an immune response to the virus, MMTV has evolved multiple means of evading this response. MMTV causes mammary tumors when the provirus integrates into the mammary epithelial and lymphoid cell genome during viral replication and thereby activates cellular oncogene expression. Thus, tumor induction is a by-product of the infection cycle. A number of important oncogenes have been discovered by carrying out MMTV integration site analysis, some of which may play a role in human breast cancer.
Non-Specificity of Thyrotropic Antihormone.∗

SummaryDaily injections of Jieep-pituitary extract into a dog produced an antihormone which inactivated in guinea pigs substantial test doses of thyrotropic hormone from sheep and bovine pituitary glands and f rom human urine oi myxoedenia. Injections of the serum alone into guinea pigs produced upon their thyroids an effect which resenibled hypophysectomy.
Punishing Mental Illness: Trans-institutionalization and Solitary Confinement in the United States

Bradley Ballard died of sepsis in May 2014 after he tied a rubber band around his genitals, smeared his body with feres, and passed out in his Rikers Island. New York City jail cell. Ballard had been arrested tor assault and public lewdness in 2013; he had previously served six years in New York state prisons for assault charges. Ballard was known to be severely mentally ill; he had spent 38 days in a prison psychiatric hospital in the weeks before he died, in the last week of his life, he made a lewd gesture at a female officer and was subsequently placed in total solitary confinement. For several days, he was not allowed to leave his cell, nor was he given medications. Because he intentionally stopped up his toilet, the water line supplying his cell was shut off (Pearson 2014).
Hydraulic Transducer for Assessing Grip Strength; RESEARCH NOTE

An instrument for assessing grip strength and endurance is described. The instrument provides an alternative type of measurement, as compared with conventional dynamometers (e.g., lever action dynamometers). It may be particularly useful for assessing the capabilities of handicapped workers.
Deforestation and managerial scales in Côte d’Ivoire

ABSTRACTWe provide evidence that a factor contributing to the specific patterns of deforestation in Cote d’Ivoire is the set of spatial units of management used to structure wood extraction. Timber harvests were organized through a system of harvest perimeters, called “chantier,” for nearly a century. Chantiers were initiated as managerial instruments. However, their use as spatial tool for profit maximization led to positional anarchy. The lack of support for sustainable harvests from the legislation, the restoration system, and the tree-based policy governing the use of their content made the chantier the basis of a one-way resources extraction. Managerial scales facilitated clearing of forests. None served to regenerate forests. Using historical and official documents, satellite and cartographic data, we attempted to demonstrate how managerial scales aiming to organize logging have contributed to deforestation. We discuss the phases of fragmentation in the rainforest, the managerial scales, and the env...
Motor Vehicle Accidents: The Scourge of the Developing World

Road traffic injuries (RTIs) are the neglected epidemic of the developing world. They are the leading cause of death in persons aged 15–29, affect people in their prime productive years, and can cause long-term disability. RTIs are on the increase in much of the world, and generalized economic and population growth ensure that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. They are set to be one of the top five causes of morbidity and mortality by 2030. Unfortunately, this epidemic is flaring up in communities and regions which are the least able to cope with it, both medically and economically. Any orthopedic surgeon practicing in a low- or middle-income country will encounter a significant number of patients with traumatic injury due to road traffic crashes. This chapter aims to review the epidemiology of RTIs in economically developing countries; available data on premature deaths, disabilities, and socioeconomic impact; and how much this could be avoided and at what cost, with the strengthening of healthcare systems in general and surgical capacity in particular.
Brownian Integrated Covariance Functions for Gaussian Process Modeling: Sigmoidal Versus Localized Basis Functions

ABSTRACTGaussian process modeling, or kriging, is a popular method for modeling data from deterministic computer simulations, and the most common choices of covariance function are Gaussian, power exponential, and Matern. A characteristic of these covariance functions is that the basis functions associated with their corresponding response predictors are localized, in the sense that they decay to zero as the input location moves away from the simulated input sites. As a result, the predictors tend to revert to the prior mean, which can result in a bumpy fitted response surface. In contrast, a fractional Brownian field model results in a predictor with basis functions that are nonlocalized and more sigmoidal in shape, although it suffers from drawbacks such as inability to represent smooth response surfaces. We propose a class of Brownian integrated covariance functions obtained by incorporating an integrator (as in the white noise integral representation of a fractional Brownian field) into any stationary...
Early recognition of infants at risk for developmental retardation

The pediatrician has a primary responsibility for the early detection of developmental problems. Attention is focused on high-risk predisposing factors aiding in early recognition of infants with developmental retardation or milder handicaps of educational importance.
Technology assessment and coverage decision making.

In the health care decision-making cascade, technology assessment renders the initial evaluative judgement about the contribution of a technology to patient care. As such, it has a major impact on coverage policy, clinical guidelines and utilization management. This impact necessitates that technology assessment have a scientific, defensible process. There are four basic components of a scientific, defensible process for both clinical and coverage decision making. These are: 1. Outcomes data that are derived preferably from controlled clinical trials and that support the safety and effectiveness of a specific indication 2. Evidence of acceptance by the practicing medical community of specific applications of a technology 3. A rigorous, evaluative process that synthesizes and analyzes outcomes data and expert opinion 4. Consistency in the use of terminology, as it is translated from the technology assessment process to coverage policy The process must be designed to assure scientific and methodological defensibility. Also, it must be designed to facilitate and substantiate the medical and coverage decision-making processes. Finally, it must be designed to enable and expedite the implementation of the managed care philosophy (i.e., outcomes-based decision making) within a particular health plan.
Primary culture of the enteric nervous system from neonatal hamster intestine: Selection of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing neurons

The enteric nervous system is a major division of the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for the regulation of gastrointestinal function. The objective of the present study was to develop a simple and effective technique for isolating and culturing neurons of the enteric nervous system that would permit characterization of their development and regulatory peptide content. This was accomplished using a dispersed intestinal cell preparation cultured under conditions designed to support the growth and differentiation of neurons and neuroendocrine cells. Newborn hamster intestine was digested in 0.1% collagenase, mechanically dispersed, and cultured in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 2.5% serum and other additives. Phase and bright-field microscopy demonstrated neuronal cells and fibers after the second day in culture. This was confirmed by immunohistochemistry using antibodies directed against neurofilament and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide. Acetic acid extracts of the culture indicated that during the first 4 days of the culture the content of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide increased, whereas the content of substance P, mammalian bombesin, and neurotensin declined. High-performance liquid chromatography and fast protein liquid chromatography confirmed that the immunoreactive vasoactive intestinal polypeptide coeluted with synthetic and iodinated forms of the peptide. This study describes a technique for primary culture of intestinal tissue that supports the survival of enteric neurons and permits analysis of the development and synthetic and secretory characteristics of the enteric nervous system.
Evolution of Microbial Quorum Sensing to Human Global Quorum Sensing: An Insight into How Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication Might Be Linked to the Global Metabolic Disease Crisis

The first anaerobic organism extracted energy for survival and reproduction from its source of nutrients, with the genetic means to ensure protection of its individual genome but also its species survival. While it had a means to communicate with its community via simple secreted molecules (“quorum sensing”), the eventual shift to an aerobic environment led to multi-cellular metazoan organisms, with evolutionary-selected genes to form extracellular matrices, stem cells, stem cell niches, and a family of gap junction or “connexin” genes. These germinal and somatic stem cells responded to extracellular signals that triggered intra-cellular signaling to regulate specific genes out of the total genome. These extra-cellular induced intra-cellular signals also modulated gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in order to regulate the new cellular functions of symmetrical and asymmetrical cell division, cell differentiation, modes of cell death, and senescence. Within the hierarchical and cybernetic concepts, differentiated by neurons organized in the brain of the Homo sapiens, the conscious mind led to language, abstract ideas, technology, myth-making, scientific reasoning, and moral decision–making, i.e., the creation of culture. Over thousands of years, this has created the current collision between biological and cultural evolution, leading to the global “metabolic disease” crisis.
Empathy, Interpretation, and Judgment: The Case for Art

This chapter presents the book’s positive argument for art subsidy. As outlined in the Introduction, this justification claims that the arts offer robust opportunities for political education. While claims are often and easily made about art’s value for general education, here I build on Chapter Two in arguing that the arts also have important value for democratic education. To make the case for art as democratic education, this chapter describes how aesthetical and political judgments share a common phenomenological structure and foster a common set of intellectual skills. While artworks may indeed have intrinsic value as perfectionists suggest, here I argue the best reason to subsidize them is instrumental: engaging an artwork practices politically useful skills of interpretation, empathy, and judgment. If successful, this argument produces an especially strong justification of subsidy. The strength of the argument resides in its fundamental commitment to democracy. This commitment is not only something shared by even diehard opponents of subsidy, but it also generates an especially apt reason for government involvement in the artworld improving democracy itself.
Statistical Models for the Analysis of Zero-Inflated Pain Intensity Numeric Rating Scale Data.

Abstract Pain intensity is often measured in clinical and research settings using the 0 to 10 numeric rating scale (NRS). NRS scores are recorded as discrete values, and in some samples they may display a high proportion of zeroes and a right-skewed distribution. Despite this, statistical methods for normally distributed data are frequently used in the analysis of NRS data. We present results from an observational cross-sectional study examining the association of NRS scores with patient characteristics using data collected from a large cohort of 18,935 veterans in Department of Veterans Affairs care diagnosed with a potentially painful musculoskeletal disorder. The mean (variance) NRS pain was 3.0 (7.5), and 34% of patients reported no pain (NRS = 0). We compared the following statistical models for analyzing NRS scores: linear regression, generalized linear models (Poisson and negative binomial), zero-inflated and hurdle models for data with an excess of zeroes, and a cumulative logit model for ordinal data. We examined model fit, interpretability of results, and whether conclusions about the predictor effects changed across models. In this study, models that accommodate zero inflation provided a better fit than the other models. These models should be considered for the analysis of NRS data with a large proportion of zeroes. Perspective We examined and analyzed pain data from a large cohort of veterans with musculoskeletal disorders. We found that many reported no current pain on the NRS on the diagnosis date. We present several alternative statistical methods for the analysis of pain intensity data with a large proportion of zeroes.
Informatics Metrics and Measures for a Smart Public Health Systems Approach: Information Science Perspective

Public health informatics is an evolving domain in which practices constantly change to meet the demands of a highly complex public health and healthcare delivery system. Given the emergence of various concepts, such as learning health systems, smart health systems, and adaptive complex health systems, health informatics professionals would benefit from a common set of measures and capabilities to inform our modeling, measuring, and managing of health system “smartness.” Here, we introduce the concepts of organizational complexity, problem/issue complexity, and situational awareness as three codependent drivers of smart public health systems characteristics. We also propose seven smart public health systems measures and capabilities that are important in a public health informatics professional’s toolkit.
Correction of Residual Ventral Penile Curvature After Division of the Urethral Plate in the First Stage of a 2-Stage Proximal Hypospadias Repair

The first stage of a 2-stage proximal hypospadias repair involves division of the urethral plate and correction of any residual ventral penile curvature (VPC). Options to correct residual VPC include dorsal corporal shortening or ventral corporal lengthening techniques. This review discusses these options and suggests an approach to management. Recent reports of 2-stage proximal hypospadias repairs indicate low rates of recurrent VPC with either dorsal corporal shortening or ventral corporal lengthening. Dorsal corporal shortening with dorsal plication may be preferentially used for mild to moderate residual VPC after division of urethral plate and ventral corporal lengthening reserved for severe residual VPC. Ventral corporal lengthening with grafts has been associated with urethroplasty complications after the second stage hypospadias surgery. Ventral corporal lengthening with relaxing incisions of corpora has been reported, but concerns about adverse effects require longer term studies. Little guidance exists to choose the best technique for VPC correction during first stage hypospadias repair after division of urethral plate. Reported literature suggests good results with dorsal plication techniques and ventral corporal lengthening. A practical approach is to use dorsal plication techniques for mild to moderate residual VPC after division of urethral plate ( 45°).
Stability of Bullying and Victimization from Childhood through Adolescence in a General Population Sample

Little is known about the persistence of bullying and victimization from childhood through adolescence and the emergence of new cases, which we investigated in a general population sample. Mothers rated the degree to which their child was a bully and a victim on the Pediatric Behavior Scale in a population-based sample of 376 children. The children were rated at 6-12 years of age ( M 9) and again an average of 8 years later ( M 16). Bullying was a problem for 14% at baseline, 9% at follow-up, and 4% at both baseline and follow-up. Victimization was a problem for 28% at baseline, 14% at follow-up, and 7% at both baseline and follow-up. Child victims were three times more likely to be adolescent victims than children who were not victims in childhood, and child bullies were five times more likely to be adolescent bullies. Only 26% of children who were victims at baseline continued to be victims at follow-up, and 30% who were bullies at baseline continued to be a bully at follow-up. For children who were neither a bully nor a victim at baseline, 87% remained neither at follow-up. Approximately half of adolescents who were bullies and half who were victims at follow-up were new cases. Although bullying and victimization decreased with time overall, the findings that 30% and 26% were still bullies and still victims and that half were new cases support the need for intervention to eliminate bullying, relieve current suffering, reduce chronicity, and prevent bullying from developing.
Advanced Intraprocedural Imaging Applications in Hepatobiliary Intervention

Intraprocedural three-dimensional imaging and guidance tools, such as cone-beam CT (CBCT), provide valuable guidance in navigating through challenging vascular and nonvascular structures while performing complex hepatobiliary and portal venous interventions, especially in patients with unconventional anatomy and technically difficult pathology. With the advent of these tools, many of the procedures that were once considered contraindicated can now be performed due to improved safety profile and operator confidence. This review describes application of these tools in various oncologic and nononcologic hepatobiliary and portal venous interventions.
Estimating Path Travel Costs for Heterogeneous Users on Large-Scale Networks: Heuristic Approach to Integrated Activity-Based Model–Dynamic Traffic Assignment Models

Integrating activity-based models (ABMs) with simulation-based dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) have gained attention from transportation planning agencies seeking tools to address the arising planning challenges as well as transportation policies such as road pricing. Optimal paths with least generalized cost are needed to route travelers at the DTA level, while at the ABM level, only the least generalized cost information is needed (without fully specified paths). Thus, rerunning (executing) the least generalized cost path-finding algorithm at each iteration of ABM and DTA does not seem to be efficient, especially for large-scale networks. Furthermore, storing the dynamic travel cost skims for multiclass users as an alternative approach is not efficient either in regard to memory requirements. In this study, the aim was to estimate the least generalized cost so as to be used in destination and mode choice models at the ABM level. A heuristic approach was developed to use the simulated vehicle trajectori...
Life as Adaptive Capacity: Bringing New Life to an Old Debate

Whatever we take “life” to mean, it must involve an attempt to describe the objective reality beyond scientists’ biases. Traditionally, this is thought to involve comparing our scientific categories to “natural kinds.” But this approach has been tainted with an implicit metaphysics, inherited from Aristotle, that does not fit biological reality. In particular, we must accept that biological categories will never be specifiable in terms of necessary and sufficient conditions or shared underlying physical structures that produce clean boundaries. Biology blurs all lines and failure to embrace this unique feature has blocked attempts to reach consensus on the meaning of “life.” Thus, while the three classical accounts (thermodynamic, metabolic, and evolutionary) all fall short of offering a complete definition, their advocates fail to realize that they share the same view of life’s ultimate, functional hallmark: its uniquely rich adaptive capacity. I develop an account of life as adaptive capacity that sidesteps debates about the relative importance of specific mechanisms and the precise location of boundaries to bring the three classical accounts together under a shared conceptual framework.
Using Cooperative Learning in a Large Introductory Statistics Class

This article discusses one active learning technique, cooperative learning, that can be used in large classes. This technique requires that students be divided into learning teams. A method for qui...
Analysing forward-looking statements in initial public offering prospectuses: a text analytics approach

Forward-looking statements (FLSs) have informational value in applications such as predicting stock prices. Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) sections in initial public offering (IPO) prospec...
Negative interpretations of distress-related information: A novel assessment tool for distress tolerance.

Abstract Distress tolerance (DT), defined as the perceived and/or actual behavioral capacity to tolerate negative emotional states, is considered an important risk factor for various externalizing and internalizing disorders. Despite the importance of DT in the development and maintenance of psychopathology, few reliable and valid indicators of DT have been developed. One potentially useful way to assess DT is through interpretation bias (IB) paradigms. The current study sought to examine the convergent validity, reliability, and clinical utility of a DT-focused IB paradigm by directly measuring an individual’s interpretations of distressing information. Participants completed a DT-IB task and self-report questionnaires. Results found an association between DTS self-report and an exaggerated DT-IB. Reliability analyses found the word pairings in our DT-IB task to display good internal consistency. In addition, an exaggerated DT-IB was associated with diagnostic status after covarying for negative affect and self-report DTS and DT-IB was associated with increased levels of negative affect above and beyond self-report DTS. This study is the first to identify specific interpretation biases for distress-related information. Given the transdiagnostic nature of DT and the efficacy and accessibility associated with CBM-I protocols for related constructs, the present findings add considerably to a growing body of literature.
A Semi-Active Control Method for Pneumatic Actuators with Evolutionary Algorithm

Pneumatic actuators have been investigated for assistive technologies such as exoskeletons. Compliant and energy efficient devices are desirable to use in daily activities. This paper introduces a novel control method to make an air cylinder function as a passive nonlinear spring with controllable stiffness. The controller computes the desired pressures based on a given stiffness. The air pressures in the cylinder are tuned accordingly, and the air cylinder starts to perform as a passive spring by closing the valves. Performance of the proposed method is validated through two experiments. The proposed method satisfies the desired stiffness response of less than 20 milliseconds and within $\pm5\%$ of the desired pressures.
E-037 Robotic transcranial doppler use aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a safety and efficacy study

Introduction/Purpose Transcranial doppler (TCD) is a bedside modality to rapidly assess the presence of vasospasm or stenosis of cerebral arteries. However, manual TCD requires a trained sonographer which may not be available in all healthcare settings. The LUCID TCD system aims to expedite and enhance TCD blood flow measurements through semi-autonomous acquisition. This study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the LUCID TCD system for detection of vasospasm. Materials and Methods Peak velocities of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) were measured and a velocity greater than 120 cm/s was considered indicative of vasospasm. To determine feasibility, maximal MCA velocities from LUCID TCD were compared to computer tomography angiography, and the Cohen’s Kappa value was calculated to gauge the agreement between the two modalities. Safety was assessed through quantifying the number of complications with central venous lines (CVL) or external ventricular drains (EVD) attributable to the LUCID device. Results Nine patients (average age = 66 yrs) with subarachnoid hemorrhages or aneurysms underwent a total of 21 LUCID TCDs to assess the MCAs for vasospasm. The autonomous motion of the LUCID TCD ultrasound transducers did not displace or impinge on CVLs/EVDs. Moreover, LUCID acquired maximum MCA velocities and angiography moderately agree with a Cohen’s Kappa value of 0.61 (p=0.005). Conclusions This investigation demonstrates that LUCID TCD as a modality to probe for MCA vasospasm is a viable option as LUCID maximum MCA velocities and angiography are moderately congruent. Additionally, LUCID TCD is safe to use clinically as it poses minimal risk to a patient‘s CVL or EVD. Disclosures K. Clare: None. A. Stein: None. J. Cooper: None. C. Gandhi: None. C. Bowers: None. C. Cole: None. J. Santarelli: None. J. Pisapia: None. F. Al-Mufti: None.
Newer and Better? Comparing Direct Oral Anticoagulants to Warfarin in Patients With Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage.

BackgroundDirect oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have overtaken warfarin as the preferred anticoagulants for stroke prevention with atrial fibrillation and for treatment of venous thromboembolism. Desp...
Therapeutic MK-4482/EIDD-2801 Blocks SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Ferrets

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a catastrophic impact on human health. Widespread community transmission has triggered stringent distancing measures with severe socioeconomic consequences. Gaining control of the pandemic will depend on interruption of transmission chains until protective herd immunity arises. Ferrets and related members of the weasel genus transmit SARS-CoV-2 efficiently with minimal clinical signs, resembling spread in the young-adult population. We previously reported an orally efficacious nucleoside analog inhibitor of influenza viruses, EIDD-2801 (or MK-4482), that was repurposed against SARS-CoV-2 and is in phase II/III clinical trials. Employing the ferret model, we demonstrate in this study high SARS-CoV-2 burden in nasal tissues and secretions that coincides with efficient direct-contact transmission. Therapeutic treatment of infected animals with twice-daily MK-4482/EIDD-2801 significantly reduced upper respiratory tract SARS-CoV-2 load and completely suppressed spread to untreated contact animals. This study identifies oral MK-4482/EIDD-2801 as a promising antiviral countermeasure to break SARS-CoV-2 community transmission chains.
Gathering Stories of Belonging: Honouring the Moʻolelo and Ancestors that Refuse to Forget Us

For too long Indigenous queers have been forced to quiet our pleasure and intimacy to be digestible to our communities. As more Indigenous queer scholars have begun to interrogate and move in conve...
Nuclear magnetic relaxation dispersion in protein solutions. IV. Proton relaxation at the active site of carbonic anhydrase.

Abstract Bovine and human B erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases substituted with Co2+ cause an enhancement of the nuclear magnetic relaxation rate of solvent water protons (T1-1) at high pH that is decreased by the addition of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as azide and Ethoxzolamide. The part of T1-1 which can be inhibited by Ethoxzolamide is due to exchangeable protons located at the active site of the enzyme. This inhibitable part of T1-1 is pH-dependent with a pK of 7.0 ± 0.2 for the bovine cobalt enzyme and a pK of 8.2 ± 0.2 for the human B cobalt enzyme. From the magnetic field dependence of the inhibitable part of T1-1, a correlation time for the dipolar interaction of a proton with a cobalt electronic spin of 10-11 sec, a proton-cobalt distance of 2.5 to 2.9 A, and for the bovine enzyme a proton residence time, τm, small compared to 10-5 sec are calculated. We conclude from the pH dependence and the proton-cobalt distance that the proton which contributes to the inhibitable part of T1-1 is located either on a hydroxide ion bound to the Co2+ at the active site or on a water molecule with 1 proton hydrogen bonded to a nearby residue. In contrast to the similarity of the inhibitable part of T1-1 for the bovine and human B cobalt enzymes, there is a non-inhibitable, pH-independent contribution resulting from the cobalt substitution, relatively large for the bovine enzyme and very small for the human B enzyme, that is not understood. The contributions of the (diamagnetic) native zinc enzymes to T1-1 have also been measured. As in the case of apotransferrin (Koenig, S. H., and Schillinger, W. E., J. Biol. Chem., 244, 3283 (1969)), the results agree qualitatively but not quantitatively with theory.
A novel automated framework for modeling and evaluating covert channel algorithms

In this paper, we introduce an automated framework that can model covert communication algorithms. Our proposed framework, Automated Covert Channel Modeling ACCM, can provide a reliable and valid implementation method for fully functional covert communication techniques that can be used to study various concepts, characteristics and features of covert communication. ACCM exploits the shared features of covert channel algorithms to define common blocks and automatically converts tasks and events of the common blocks to executable codes. In order to verify the accuracy of our proposed ACCM framework, we implement two different covert channel algorithms that are referenced repeatedly in literature. We demonstrate that the characteristics obtained from implementing covert communication using the ACCM framework match the theoretical concepts of network communication and the expected results. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.