cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-F-T-644: Reproducibility of Target Position Using Moderate Voluntary Breath- Hold During Liver Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of target position using moderate voluntary breath-hold during liver stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). Methods: Two patients who underwent liver SABR on a Varian TrueBeam STx linac were used for this study. Fiducial markers were placed in and around the target in the liver as surrogates for the target position and motion. GTVs were contoured by assessing tumor extent on contrast enhanced CT. The PTV was created from the GTV by adding 2 mm margins to account for the residual motion during breath-holds. A portable biofeedback system was used to facilitate the breath-hold to a reproducible position. The Varian RPM system was used for gating the linac. Proceeding each treatment, orthogonal kV pairs were taken, and alignment to nearby bony anatomy was performed. Then the breath-hold CBCT was acquired to align the fiducial markers. On-line fluoroscopy was used to fine-tune the breath-hold gating thresholds to correlate with the positions of the fiducial markers. The inter-fraction reproducibility of the target was evaluated by the offsets of the daily breath-hold CBCTs from the paired kV matches as a direct measure of the target position relative to the bony anatomy. The intra-fraction reproducibility of the target position was assessed by the gated window of the RPM marker block for each fraction. Results: The absolute mean offsets between the CBCT and paired kV matches in the vertical, longitudinal, and lateral directions were 0.06 cm, 0.10 cm, and 0.06 cm for patient 1, and 0.37 cm, 0.62 cm, and 0.09 cm for patient 2. The gated window of the RPM marker block for the breath-hold for each fraction was within 0.63 ± 0.16 cm and 0.59 ± 0.12 cm for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusion: Moderate voluntary breath-hold showed good inter- and intra-fraction reproducibility of target position during liver SABR.
Testing Stationarity of Brain Functional Connectivity Using Change-Point Detection in fMRI Data

This paper studies two questions: (1) Does the functional connectivity (FC) in a human brain remain stationary during performance of a task? (2) If it is non-stationary, how can one evaluate and estimate dynamic FC? The framework presented here relies on pre-segmented brain regions to represent instantaneous FC as symmetric, positive-definite matrices (SPDMs), with entries denoting covariances of fMRI signals across regions. The time series of such SPDMs is tested for change point detection using two important ideas: (1) a convenient Riemannian structure on the space of SPDMs for calculating geodesic distances and sample statistics, and (2) a graph-based approach, for testing similarity of distributions, that uses pairwise distances and a minimal spanning tree. This hypothesis test results in a temporal segmentation of observation interval into parts with stationary connectivity and an estimation of graph displaying FC during each such interval. We demonstrate these ideas using fMRI data from HCP database.
Introduction and Certain Double Sampling Procedures

Sequential procedures differ from the usual statistical procedures in that the sample size is not fixed in advance. The experimenter has the freedom to look at a sequence of observations one at a time and to decide whether to stop sampling and make a decision or to continue sampling and take an action later. It is assumed that the order of the sequence of observations which the experimenter might take is prescribed in advance. Decision problems in which the experimenter has a choice of experiments to perform at each stage or to vary sequentially the treatments are of a higher order of difficulty. Such problems are called “sequential design problems.”
On the relative output SINR of full and partial decorrelators

We investigate the relative output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) performance of two linear direct-sequence code-division multiple-access multiuser detectors: the full decorrelator and the partial decorrelator. We derive necessary and sufficient conditions on the system parameters under which the partial decorrelator outperforms the full decorrelator in the output SINR sense. As a side study, we consider a blind implementation of the full decorrelator that is based on eigendecomposition of the interference-plus-noise autocovariance matrix and can be easily modified to provide a partial decorrelator. Simulation studies illustrate the relative SINR and bit-error rate performance of the full and partial decorrelator under perfectly known and sample-average-estimated input statistics.
Advances in Immediate Breast Reconstruction and Reconstruction after Breast Conservation

The number of breast reconstruction cases performed in the United States continues to rise every year. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of trends in breast reconstruction after both mastectomy and breast conservation, including highlights of recent advances and new issues. The two main types of breast reconstruction are implant-based and autologous approaches. In the United States, implant-based reconstruction is performed more commonly than autologous reconstruction. Historically, implant-based reconstruction has been performed in two stages, but now increasingly is completed in one stage. For autologous reconstruction, the abdomen remains the most common source of tissue for reconstruction, with a trend towards the use of perforator flaps relative to the transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flaps. For women who are not candidates for abdominal-based breast reconstruction, there are now a number of thigh and buttock flaps that can be offered. Other recent developments in breast reconstruction include the expanding role for fat grafting and the increasing popularity of nipple-sparing mastectomy. The timing of breast reconstruction in relation to post-mastectomy radiation therapy remains a topic of ongoing debate. For the patients that opt for breast conservation therapy, reconstruction can be initiated at the time of the oncologic resection by the use of oncoplastic methods. Surgery to enhance symmetry after breast conservation is a complex topic due to the myriad of factors that influence what the optimal surgical approach might be. We will investigate these options. Plastic surgeons employ a range of techniques to reconstruct after mastectomy or breast conservation.
Assessing the reproducibility of exome copy number variations predictions.

Background Reproducibility is receiving increased attention across many domains of science and genomics is no exception. Efforts to identify copy number variations (CNVs) from exome sequence (ES) data have been increasing. Many algorithms have been published to discover CNVs from exomes and a major challenge is the reproducibility in other datasets. Here we test exome CNV calling reproducibility under three conditions: data generated by different sequencing centers; varying sample sizes; and varying capture methodology.
Granzyme B Is Important for Treg-Mediated Suppression of NK-Dependent Tumor Clearance In Vivo.

NK-dependent clearance of RMAS lymphoma and B16 melanoma (MHC I low ) has been demonstrated in NK cell-deficient mice (Kim S et al, PNAS. 2000 Mar; 97(6): 2731–6) . We recently investigated the roles of granzyme (Gzm) A and B in NK-dependent clearance of RMAS and B16 cells. The survival curves following intravenous injection of 2x10 5 RMAS cells are shown in the Figure; similar results were found with B16 cells. All granzyme AxB-deficient mice died within 6 weeks. Survival of granzyme A-deficient mice was similar to that of WT mice. Surprisingly, granzyme B-deficient mice were more resistant than WT mice to these tumor challenges. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that human regulatory T (Treg) cells can use the granule exocytosis pathway to kill a variety of autologous immune cells in vitro (Grossman WJ et al, Immunity. 2004 Oct; 21(4): 589–601) . Based on these results, we hypothesized that these tumor cell lines may induce granzyme B expression in Tregs, which in turn suppress the function of the NK cells responsible for clearing the tumors. Indeed, flow cytometric studies revealed that granzyme B (but not granzyme A) was highly expressed in 10–30% of CD4 + /FoxP3 + Tregs found in the tumor environment (i.e. ascites fluid, tumor-infiltrated livers, or lungs). In contrast, very few granzyme B-expressing cells ( in vivo , we purified Tregs (95% pure CD4 + /CD25 + cells) from the resting spleens of both WT and granzyme B-deficient mice, and co-injected them intraperitoneally with 2x10 6 luciferase-tagged RMAS cells into granzyme B-deficient mice. Tumor burden was assessed using in vivo bioluminescence imaging. Add-back of 2x10 6 WT Tregs into granzyme B-deficient mice restored tumor growth to 40% of that observed at day 7 in WT mice, whose tumor burden was approximately 50-fold higher than that of granzyme B-deficient mice. Add-back of equal doses of granzyme B-deficient Tregs had no effect on tumor burden. Our data suggest that these tumor cell lines induce the expression of granzyme B in Tregs, which subsequently suppress tumor-specific NK cells. These data demonstrate for the first time that granzyme B plays a crucial role in Treg-mediated suppression of NK cell function in vivo . By recruiting and activating Tregs that inhibit NK cell function, these tumors gain a survival advantage that is lost in the setting of granzyme B deficiency in the Tregs. This study therefore suggests that targeted inhibition of granzyme B in Tregs may represent a novel approach to break Treg-mediated tumor tolerance.
A thermally-invariant, additively manufactured, high-power graphene resistor for flexible electronics

Solution processed two-dimensional (2D) layered materials and their integration with additive manufacturing techniques, such as ink-jet printing, is a facile approach for incorporating these exotic materials into device platforms for flexible electronics. In this work, graphene ink formulations are successfully utilized toward the design and fabrication of high-power resistive structures that are printed on both rigid and flexible substrates and have the potential to deliver close to 10 W of power. A near-flat, negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) is measured with an activation energy E a ~ 2.4 meV for electron hopping, which is 100× lower compared to E a values for high TCR materials. The TCR and E a values are amongst the lowest reported for 2D layered material systems. The thermal-invariance of resistivity for such high-power graphene printed resistors is attractive for applications, for example to provide a stable heating source for flexible electronics over extreme thermal environments. The transport characteristics of the ink-jet printed features is modeled as a composite structure in order to explain the thermal response which appears to be mediated via defects in the sonicated graphite, and correlates well to inferences made from Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis conducted on the printed graphene structures. In order to fabricate such functional structures with ink-jet printing, the active nozzle number, printing passes, and annealing conditions are shown to play an important role to determine line resolution, and also dictate the morphological and electronic transport characteristics of the printed graphene features.
Lower likelihood of falling at age 90+ is associated with daily exercise a quarter of a century earlier: The 90+ Study

Author(s): Paganini-Hill, Annlia; Greenia, Dana E; Perry, Shawna; Sajjadi, Seyed Ahmad; Kawas, Claudia H; Corrada, Maria M | Abstract: Objectiveto explore the relationship between risk of falling at age 90+ and prior physical activity at age 60-70s.Designpopulation-based cohort study (The 90+ Study).SettingCalifornia retirement community.Participantsof 1596 cohort members, 1536 had both falls and prior activity data. Mean age = 94 years; 78% female; 99% Caucasian.Methodstime spent in active physical activity was self-reported in 1980s; medical history, medication, assistive devices, residence type, and falls (outcome) was collected in 2000s. Activity/fall relationships were assessed using logistic regression.Resultsfalls were reported by 52% of participants, recurrent falls by 32%, and severe injury by 21% of fallers. In univariate analyses risk of falling at age 90+ was significantly related to medical history (heart disease, TIA/stroke, arthritis, vision disease, depression, dementia), medication use (hypnotics, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants), use of assistive devices (cane, walker, wheelchair), residence type (living with relatives, sheltered living), and source of information (self-report vs informant). Risks of falling and recurrent falls at age 90+ were 35-45% lower in those reporting 30+ minutes/day of active physical activity at age 60-70s compared with no activity. The odds ratio of falling was 0.65 (95% CI = 0.44-0.97) for 30-45 minutes/day and 0.64 (0.44-0.94) for 1+ hour/day adjusting for age, sex, medical history (stroke/TIA, vision disease, depression), use of assistive devices, and source of information.Conclusions and relevancefalls are extremely common among the oldest-old and a significant proportion lead to severe injury. This work is the first to show an association between exercise at age 60-70s and lower risk of falling at age 90+.
An educational program to improve cancer survivorship research.

94Background: ASCO has recognized the need to expand its educational portfolio to focus on long-term care of cancer survivors. Academic programs across health care professions overlook this topic in their curricula. To address this gap, we developed a survivorship research internship for undergraduate students enrolled in public health or health education programs. Here we present the results of an evaluation to assess the level of satisfaction of trainees and improve the curriculum. Methods: All students who completed the internship were eligible to participate in the evaluation. The authors conducted the survey using an electronic data system. Respondents were asked to rate their level of satisfaction with the curriculum and specific assignments, i.e. conducting their own survivorship research project, taking classes about PubMed or EndNotes, and abstracting data from medical records to use in survivorship care plans. Other measures were whether a trainee had written/published an abstract/manuscript, pu...
Treatment Satisfaction and Adherence to Oral Chemotherapy in Patients With Cancer

Purpose:Although patients with cancer overwhelming prefer oral to intravenous chemotherapy, little is known about adherence to oral agents. We aimed to identify the rates and correlates of adherence in patients with diverse malignancies.Materials and Methods:Ninety patients with chronic myeloid leukemia or metastatic renal cell carcinoma, non–small-cell lung cancer, or breast cancer enrolled in this prospective, single-group, observational study of medication-taking behaviors. Adherence was measured via self-report and with an electronic pill cap (Medication Event Monitoring System cap). Patients completed surveys regarding symptom distress, mood, quality of life, cancer-specific distress, and satisfaction with clinician communication and treatment at baseline and 12-week follow-up.Results:As measured by the Medication Event Monitoring System, patients took, on average, 89.3% of their prescribed oral chemotherapy over the 12 weeks. One quarter of the sample was less than 90% adherent, and women were more ...
Parental Legal Status and the Political Engagement of Second-Generation Mexican Americans

This paper invokes a theoretical model of immigrant membership exclusion to assess the political integration of second-generation Mexican Americans. Specifically, we examine the extent to which the migration status of parents, especially mothers, is associated with the political engagement, community engagement, and voting registration of their adult offspring. In each type of engagement, respondents whose mothers have remained unauthorized show lower overall levels of political incorporation. The effect is indirect in that it is mediated by the respondents’ educational level, in keeping with prior research showing that persistent unauthorized status by mothers reduces the years of schooling of children. This study thus contributes to the literature finding that the unauthorized status of parents has repercussions for the overall integration of their offspring.
Vitamin D insufficiency is associated with an increased risk of early clinical failure in follicular lymphoma

We evaluated whether vitamin D insufficiency (VDI; 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml) was associated with adverse outcomes among follicular lymphoma (FL) patients using an observational prospective cohort study of 642 FL patients enrolled from 2002–2012. The median age at diagnosis was 60 years. At a median follow-up of 59 months, 297 patients (46%) had an event (progression, treatment failure), 78 had died and 42 (6.5%) had a lymphoma-related death. VDI was associated with inferior event-free survival (EFS) at 12 months (EFS12, odds ratio (OR)=2.05; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–3.54), overall survival (OS, hazards ratio (HR)=2.35; 95%CI 1.37–4.02), and lymphoma-specific survival (LSS, HR=2.97; 95% CI 1.52–5.80) for the full cohort. Among patients treated with immunochemotherapy (IC), VDI was associated with inferior EFS12 (OR=3.00; 95% CI 1.26–7.13), OS (HR=2.86; 95% CI 1.39–5.85), and LSS (HR=2.96; 95% CI 1.29–6.79). For observed patients, VDI was associated with inferior OS (HR=2.85; 95% CI 1.20–6.76). For other therapies, VDI was associated with inferior OS (HR=3.06; 95% CI 1.01–9.24). Our work is the first to reveal an association of VDI with early clinical failure, and to demonstrate an association of VDI with adverse outcomes among patients who are observed or treated with therapies other than IC. Our findings suggest a potentially modifiable prognostic factor to address in patients with FL.
Simple HPLC Method with Internal Standard for Evaluation of Vitamin B1 Status By Use of Whole Blood.

Background: Two primary assays are routinely used for evaluating a patient9s vitamin B1 status: plasma free thiamine and whole blood thiamine diphosphate (TDP). TDP is the bioactive form of vitamin B1 and best reflects body stores. Plasma free thiamine levels are driven by recent dietary intake. The objective of this study was to develop a simple HPLC method with an internal standard (IS) that simultaneously measures TDP and thiamine in whole blood, and to assess the use of this single-tube assay to provide comprehensive evaluation of vitamin B1 status. Methods: The final assay used amprolium thiochrome as an IS, and the sample preparation procedure takes approximately 1 h. Whole blood thiamine and plasma thiamine were concurrently measured for 126 subjects. Results: The analytical measurement range was 1.7 to 442.3 nmol/L (TDP) and 1.7 to 375.4 nmol/L (thiamine), with interassay precisions of 4.0% to 4.8% (TDP) and 2.9% to 8.0% (thiamine), respectively. Method comparison with a reference laboratory HPLC method showed r = 0.9625, slope = 1.021, and intercept = 0.982 (n = 53) for TDP quantification. Whole blood thiamine correlated closely with plasma thiamine levels but were slightly higher with a mean difference of 1.0 nmol/L (range: −3.0 to 5.0 nmol/L). The reference interval for whole blood TDP and thiamine was 84.3 to 213.3 nmol/L and 1.7 to 21.9 nmol/L, respectively. Conclusions: This assay provides a simple and reliable HPLC method with a suitable IS for quantification of both TDP and thiamine from whole blood. It also eliminates the need for separate samples for TDP and thiamine measurement, which will allow both short-term and long-term vitamin B1 status to be assessed from a single sample.
The awes and woes of modernity: Gozzano gazzettiere and the Great Exhibition of Turin 1911

This article discusses the prose pieces that Guido Gozzano wrote about the 1911 International Exposition in Turin. Against previous interpretations, I argue that, rather than constituting either an...
Pre-neoplastic pancreas cells enter a partially mesenchymal state following transient TGF-β exposure

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease and a major health problem in the United States. While the cytokine TGF-β has been implicated in PDAC development, it can exert both pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic effects that are highly context dependent and incompletely understood. Using three-dimensional (3D) cultures of KrasG12D-expressing mouse pancreatic epithelial cells we demonstrated that while exposure to exogenous TGF-β induced growth arrest of the KrasG12D cells, its subsequent removal allowed the cells to enter a hyper-proliferative, partially mesenchymal (PM), and progenitor-like state. This state was highly stable and was maintained by autocrine TGF-β signaling. While untreated KrasG12D cells formed cystic lesions in vivo, PM cells formed ductal structures resembling human PanINs, suggesting that they had attained increased oncogenic potential. Supporting this hypothesis, we determined that the PM cells share salient molecular and phenotypic features with the quasi-mesenchymal/squamous subtype of human PDAC, which has the worst prognosis of any of the recently identified subtypes. Transient pulses of TGF-β have been observed during pancreatitis, a major risk factor for PDAC. Our data suggest that transient TGF-β exposure is sufficient to induce the acquisition of stable PDAC-associated phenotypes in pre-neoplastic KrasG12D cells, providing novel molecular insight into the complex role of TGF-β in tumorigenesis.
Horizontal Vestibuloocular Reflex Evoked by High-Acceleration Rotations in the Squirrel Monkey. II. Responses After Canal Plugging

The horizontal angular vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) evoked by high-frequency, high-acceleration rotations was studied in four squirrel monkeys after unilateral plugging of the three semicircular canals. During the period (1-4 days) that animals were kept in darkness after plugging, the gain during steps of acceleration (3, 000 degrees /s(2), peak velocity = 150 degrees /s) was 0.61 +/- 0.14 (mean +/- SD) for contralesional rotations and 0.33 +/- 0.03 for ipsilesional rotations. Within 18-24 h after animals were returned to light, the VOR gain for contralesional rotations increased to 0. 88 +/- 0.05, whereas there was only a slight increase in the gain for ipsilesional rotations to 0.37 +/- 0.07. A symmetrical increase in the gain measured at the plateau of head velocity was noted after animals were returned to light. The latency of the VOR was 8.2 +/- 0. 4 ms for ipsilesional and 7.1 +/- 0.3 ms for contralesional rotations. The VOR evoked by sinusoidal rotations of 0.5-15 Hz, +/-20 degrees /s had no significant half-cycle asymmetries. The recovery of gain for these responses after plugging was greater at lower than at higher frequencies. Responses to rotations at higher velocities for frequencies >/=4 Hz showed an increase in contralesional half-cycle gain, whereas ipsilesional half-cycle gain was unchanged. A residual response that appeared to be canal and not otolith mediated was noted after plugging of all six semicircular canals. This response increased with frequency to reach a gain of 0.23 +/- 0.03 at 15 Hz, resembling that predicted based on a reduction of the dominant time constant of the canal to 32 ms after plugging. A model incorporating linear and nonlinear pathways was used to simulate the data. The coefficients of this model were determined from data in animals with intact vestibular function. Selective increases in the gain for the linear and nonlinear pathways predicted the changes in recovery observed after canal plugging. An increase in gain of the linear pathway accounted for the recovery in VOR gain for both responses at the velocity plateau of the steps of acceleration and for the sinusoidal rotations at lower peak velocities. The increase in gain for contralesional responses to steps of acceleration and sinusoidal rotations at higher frequencies and velocities was due to an increase in the gain of the nonlinear pathway. This pathway was driven into inhibitory cutoff at low velocities and therefore made no contribution for rotations toward the ipsilesional side.
Radiosurgery for Trigeminal Neuralgia: Indications, Results and Complications

Radiosurgery is the least minimally invasive ablative technique available for the treatment of medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN). The results obtained with radiosurgery are not superior to the results obtained with other techniques. Initial pain relief rates after radiosurgery treatment are high; especially for classical TN, ranging about 85% to 95%. The 3 years actuarial rate of excellent pain outcome (i.e, pain free and medication free) varies from 46% to 53%. Facial numbness is the most frequent complication with variable incidence, ranging from 6% to 54%. Major complications such as anesthesia dolorosa are rare. The convenience of the treatment procedure allied to the absence of major complications is responsible for the establishment of radiosurgery among other surgical modalities. The possibility of frameless radiosurgery performed with modern dedicated-Linac devices makes radiosurgery even more appealing for the patients. The positioning of the isocenter within the cisternal segment of the trigeminal nerve and the prescribed radiation doses vary substantially among the different centers offering radiosurgery for TN as well as radiation dose distribution and nerve length irradiated. The goal of this chapter is to provide a summarized discussion about who are the candidates for radiosurgery, advantages and disadvantages of the technique and a summary of the evidence provided by the use of different radiosurgery treatment protocols. At last, this chapter points the questions that still need to be answered, aiming to optimize the results obtained with radiosurgery so far.
Primary Ovarian Insufficiency and Adolescent Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Published case series have suggested a potential association between human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI). We describe POI incidence and estimate POI risk after HPV; tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis, adsorbed (Tdap); inactivated influenza (II); and meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccination. METHODS: We searched Kaiser Permanente Northwest electronic health records for outpatient diagnoses suggestive of POI in female patients aged 11 to 34 years between 2006 and 2014. We reviewed and adjudicated the medical record to confirm diagnoses and estimate symptom onset dates. We excluded cases with known causes and calculated the incidence of idiopathic POI. We estimated risk by calculating hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: From a cohort of 199 078 female patients, we identified 120 with diagnoses suggestive of POI. After adjudication and exclusion of 26 POI cases with known causes, we confirmed 46 idiopathic POI cases. POI incidence was low in 11- to 14-year-olds (0.87 per 1 000 000 person-months) and increased with age. One confirmed case patient received the HPV vaccine 23 months before the first clinical evaluation for delayed menarche. The adjusted hazard ratio was 0.30 (95% CI: 0.07–1.36) after HPV, 0.88 (95% CI: 0.37–2.10) after Tdap, 1.42 (95% CI: 0.59–3.41) after II, and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.27–3.23) after MenACWY vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find a statistically significant elevated risk of POI after HPV, Tdap, II, or MenACWY vaccination in this population-based retrospective cohort study. These findings should lessen concern about POI risk after adolescent vaccination.
Life's Joke: Bergson, Comedy, and the Meaning of Laughter

Despite its brevity and relative neglect in Bergson scholarship, the concerns of Bergson’s little book Laughter extend to much more profound things than its title indicates. On the surface, its significance might seem to be symptomatic: laughter exposes something essentially human. But in the very first chapter, Bergson observes that laughter and the comic exclusively concern the human, but also “must have a social meaning.” Bergson’s very interest in laughter and the comic might well arise from the fact that the phenomenon of laughter indicates a social situation – denoted as the comic – in which human beings are both the source and the object of laughter. The comic situation gives laughter, as a sociological fact, a dual valence: humans laugh, but they only ever laugh at themselves.
Hyponatremia in Association With Second-Generation Antipsychotics: A Systematic Review of Case Reports

Background: Hyponatremia is generally defined as a serum sodium level Methods: We conducted a systematic review of case reports of hyponatremia associated with the use of SGAs in patients with schizophrenia. We searched MEDLINE (from 1946 through September 2016) using the medical subject headings antipsychotic agents, hyponatremia, and water intoxication to identify reported diagnoses of hyponatremia following treatment with SGAs in patients with schizophrenia. Results: We abstracted 12 potentially relevant case reports from 157 records. Nine case reports met the selection criteria. Three cases involved the use of aripiprazole (Abilify), 3 involved the use of risperidone (Risperdal), and the other 3 cases involved ziprasidone, olanzapine, and clozapine. Approximately equal numbers of males and females were represented, and 2 of the 9 patients were aged ≥60 years. The average patient age was 47 years, and the average time to the hyponatremia event was 17 days. The average serum sodium was 138 mmol/L at baseline, 112 mmol/L at treatment nadir, and 138 mmol/L after treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: Hyponatremia can result from the use of SGAs in patients with schizophrenia and can be avoided with proper management of treatment. Physicians, psychiatrists, and other healthcare workers should be aware of the potential for severe hyponatremia with the use of commonly prescribed SGAs. SGA-induced hyponatremia is generally reversible after discontinuing treatment.
Spatial clustering of inhibition in mouse primary visual cortex

SUMMARY Whether mouse visual cortex contains orderly feature maps is debated. The overlapping pattern of geniculocortical (dLGN) inputs with M2 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor-rich patches in layer 1 (L1) suggests a non-random architecture. Here, we found that L1 inputs from the lateral posterior thalamus (LP) avoid patches and target interpatches. Channelrhodopsin-assisted mapping of EPSCs in L2/3 shows that the relative excitation of parvalbumin-expressing interneurons (PVs) and pyramidal neurons (PNs) by dLGN, LP and cortical feedback are distinct and depend on whether the neurons reside in clusters aligned with patches or interpatches. Paired recordings from PVs and PNs shows that unitary IPSCs are larger in interpatches than patches. The spatial clustering of inhibition is matched by dense clustering of PV-terminals in interpatches. The results show that the excitation/inhibition balance across V1 is organized into patch and interpatch subnetworks which receive distinct long-range inputs and are specialized for the processing of distinct spatiotemporal features.
Growth of Perennials and Leaching of Heavy Metals in Media Amended with a Municipal Leaf, Sewage Sludge and Street Sand Compost

Abstract Municipal leaves, sewage sludge, and street sand were composted by a modified Beltsville aerated pile technique. Rooted cuttings of Aster novi-belgii L. ‘Peter Harrison,’ Gaura Lindheimeri...
Increasing Numbers of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome Cases Caused by ST121 in Houston, Texas

Background:The molecular epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus strains causing staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) in the United States has not been described. We analyzed patient and S. aureus isolate characteristics associated with SSSS in children at Texas Children’s Hospital.Methods:Pati
Interval-Valued Kriging Models for Geostatistical Mapping with Imprecise Inputs

Many geosciences data are imprecise due to various limitations and uncertainties in the measuring process. One way to preserve this imprecision in a geostatistical mapping framework is to characterize the measurements as intervals rather than single values. To effectively analyze the interval-valued data, this paper proposes and develops interval-valued kriging models based on the theory of random sets and a generalized L2 metric. These models overcome the mathematical difficulties of a previous development and are computationally more feasible. Numerical implementation of our interval-valued kriging is provided using a penalty-based constrained optimization algorithm. An application to the prediction of design ground snow loads in Utah, USA, is presented that demonstrates the advantages of the proposed models in preserving crucial sources of uncertainty towards a more efficient risk-based designing scheme.
Incorporating lung cancer screening education into tobaccocessation group counseling

Introduction Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality, yet few people who are eligible for LCS get screened. In the present study, we studied the feasibility of tobacco cessation counselors to inform about LCS during tobacco cessation group counseling. Methods Four tobacco cessation counselors at two different facilities offering group tobacco cessation counseling were trained to administer an educational intervention about LCS. The intervention was administered to 25 participants during May 2019 who completed surveys that assessed how much the information provided helped with understanding various aspects of lung cancer screening including benefits, risks, eligibility criteria, and insurance coverage. The intervention also provided information on how to learn more about LCS and assessed the acceptability of the information. Results The median score for understanding of all components of the intervention was 5 ('completely understand'). Most participants (92%) felt that the information provided about LCS was the right amount. Most participants (72%) were aged 55-80 years, the age range for LCS eligibility. Four participants (16%) reported undergoing LCS in the past. When we reanalyzed the subset of participants who reported no prior LCS, the results of surveys were similar. Conclusions Our findings suggest that it is feasible to train tobacco cessation counselors to educate smokers, attending group tobacco cessation counseling classes, also about LCS. The education provided in this study was both understood and well received by the large majority of smokers surveyed. Further study is needed to understand the effect of LCS education on utilization of LDCT among smokers enrolled in tobacco cessation counseling.
Accommodating Patients with Obesity and Mobility Difficulties: Observations from Physicians

Abstract Background Given the growing population of U.S. adults with obesity and mobility disability, physicians will need to accommodate these patients. Objective To explore attitudes and practices of US physicians related to caring for patients with obesity and mobility disability. Methods Three open-ended, semi-structured, web-based focus group interviews with practicing physicians in selected specialties, which reached data saturation. Interviews were video recorded and transcribed for qualitative, conventional content analysis. Measurements included commonly expressed themes around caring for patients with obesity. Results Physicians recognized obesity as a disability that poses challenges to high quality, safe, and efficient patient care. Observations coalesced around four themes: (1) difficulty routinely tracking weight; (2) reluctance to transfer obese patients to exam tables; (3) barriers to diagnostic testing; and (4) weight stigma. Physicians described difficulties accurately assessing weight, performing complete physical examinations, arranging diagnostic imaging, and providing prenatal care for obese patients. Lack of accessible medical diagnostic equipment impeded care for patients with obesity. Other participants did not contest comments of individual participants’ that suggested weight stigma. Conclusions Our findings suggest that important gaps may remain in providing equitable access to care for patients with obesity, requiring additional training and accessible medical diagnostic equipment to safely accommodate these patients.
10 year follow-up study of gender in sports coverage of the U.S. and Spanish online newspapers (2003–2004 vs. 2013–2014)

The purpose of this paper was to assess the evolution of sports coverage regarding gender in online newspapers in two western societies Spain and the United States, in a period of ten years (2004 vs. 2014). A total of 2,951 articles with athletic content from the online newspapers usatoday.com and elmundo.es were analyzed. The variables registered were gender, placement in the newspaper, word count, inclusion of photographs, and the sports disciplines. The results show a significant reduction in sports articles in the two online newspapers for both genders. This reduction resulted in a decrease in the variability of sports articles. Further, there was a significant imbalance in sports news between the two genders. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of sports articles in both online newspapers for women, significantly reducing the accessibility of articles about women’s sports. The gender imbalance was higher in the Spanish newspaper than in the U.S. newspaper. The gender imbalance was higher in the Spanish newspaper than in the U.S. newspaper. Both online newspapers showed an image of sport that is male-orientated, focused on elite-level sport and with an overall low number of sport disciplines.
The Autocrat’s Moral-Legal Dilemma: Popular Morality and Legal Institutions in China:

Authoritarian regimes sometimes professionalize their legal systems to govern more effectively. Yet when quasi-autonomous courts rule in contradiction to popular conceptions of right and wrong—popu...
The Beginnings of Formal Logic: Deduction in Aristotle’s Topics vs. Prior Analytics

It is widely agreed that Aristotle’s Prior Analytics, but not the Topics, marks the beginning of formal logic. There is less agreement as to why this is so. What are the distinctive features in virtue of which Aristotle’s discussion of deductions (syllogismoi) qualifies as formal logic in the one treatise but not in the other? To answer this question, I argue that in the Prior Analytics—unlike in the Topics—Aristotle is concerned to make fully explicit all the premisses that are necessary to derive the conclusion in a given deduction.
Fostering intercultural competence through videoconference exchange: using an external provider to match learners with trained native speakers and administer video calls

This practical case presents the use of an External Provider (EP) as an alternative approach to the traditional telecollaboration setting where a partnership with a foreign higher education institution is established. Usually, these partnerships involve language exchanges between learning partners who mutually practice each other’s native language. Instead, an eight-week cross-cultural Virtual Exchange (VE) in Spanish between US college students studying Spanish and trained Colombian university students was organized through an external language platform to foster the US students’ Intercultural Competence (IC). It is concluded that the use of an EP brings an undeniable level of flexibility to the organization of the VE, and makes manageable the integration of this type of program in higher education language classes. Additionally, this article assesses the value of this approach by looking at the effect of VE on the US students’ self- assessment of IC after the videoconference exchanges. Data from quantitative surveys and student blogs show a significant increase in the students’ IC after the program.
Stop it!: A Quality Improvement Project to Reduce Antibiotic Utilization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Antibiotic overuse is consistently identified as a major source of waste within healthcare; neonates are especially vulnerable with resultant altered microbiota with increased susceptibility to morbidities such as necrotizing enterocolitis, nosocomial infections, and increased mortality. Our unit previously successfully completed a 75% reduction in antibiotic utilization rate (AUR) through the introduction of the Early Onset Sepsis Risk Calculator in 2017. We wished to further lessen antibiotic overuse, with a SMART aim of reducing AUR by 60% from September 2019 to December 2020. Baseline data revealed the largest contribution (56%) to …
Small-Scale Produce Growers’ Barriers and Motivators to Value-Added Business: Food Safety and Beyond

Abstract Small-scale produce growers are increasingly interested in making value-added products because it enables them to expand profits while reducing food waste. However, small-scale growers also face challenges in establishing value-added businesses, such as a lack of understanding about food safety regulations and limited resources. This study identifies produce growers' barriers and motivators to starting and expanding value-added businesses from the perspective of growers and farmers market managers in Indiana. A combination of quantitative (web-based survey) and qualitative (focus group and semi-structured interview) methods were used in this study. A total of 136 produce growers participated through focus groups (n = 38) and a web-based survey (n = 98); 14 farmers market managers participated in semi-structured interviews. Four major motivators for starting and expanding a value-added business included increasing profits, reducing food waste, meeting customers’ demands for food products, and personal preferences. Barriers to establishing a value-added business were classified into three major categories: regulations, resources, and marketing. Growers perceived the regulations for selling value-added products as complicated, ambiguous, and restrictive. Additionally, a lack of resources, including time, labor, cost, infrastructure, the amount of available produce, and outside support, were reported to hamper the establishment of a value-added business. Some growers also reported difficulties with marketing their products to increase their sales. The findings of this study provide evidence for policymakers to use in their decision-making processes. It also serves as a guide for researchers and educators in the development of appropriate business development strategies and research and education programs for small-scale growers.
Improving Bounds on Occluded Vehicle States for Use in Safe Motion Planning

Sensor occlusions pose a large risk to autonomous vehicles due to the unknown nature of what lies within. Previous research has introduced methods for predicting the future occupancy of hidden vehicles. Potential hidden vehicles are represented as continuous intervals on position, angle, and speed. These intervals are defined based on sensor occlusions, but over-represent true possible hidden vehicle state. The resulting occupancy predictions are restrictive to motion planning, and cause unwanted over-cautious behavior. Therefore, we introduce our method for reducing the bounds on the state interval used in prediction. We detail how tracking occlusion motion can be used to restrict the position interval, and observation over time can be used to find an upper limit on the exit velocity. The smaller initial intervals yield much smaller predicted occupancies, especially over long prediction horizons. Our method is evaluated in simulation alongside the previous method, using a basic provably-safe planner. Over three simulated scenarios, we show that our approach is able to navigate intersections up to 3 seconds faster, and avoid unnecessary braking maneuvers.
The mitochondrial calcium uniporter promotes arrhythmias caused by high-fat diet

Obesity and diabetes increase the risk of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. However, the molecular mechanisms of arrhythmia caused by metabolic abnormalities are not well understood. We hypothesized that mitochondrial dysfunction caused by high fat diet (HFD) promotes ventricular arrhythmia. Based on our previous work showing that saturated fat causes calcium handling abnormalities in cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized that mitochondrial calcium uptake contributes to HFD-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and arrhythmic events. For experiments, we used mice with conditional cardiac-specific deletion of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (Mcu), which is required for mitochondrial calcium uptake, and littermate controls. Mice were used for in vivo heart rhythm monitoring, perfused heart experiments, and isolated cardiomyocyte experiments. MCU KO mice are protected from HFD-induced long QT, inducible ventricular tachycardia, and abnormal ventricular repolarization. Abnormal repolarization may be due, at least in part, to a reduction in protein levels of voltage gated potassium channels. Furthermore, isolated cardiomyocytes from MCU KO mice exposed to saturated fat are protected from increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormal calcium handling. Activation of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) corresponds with the increase in arrhythmias in vivo. Additional experiments showed that CaMKII inhibition protects cardiomyocytes from the mitochondrial dysfunction caused by saturated fat. Hearts from transgenic CaMKII inhibitor mice were protected from inducible ventricular tachycardia after HFD. These studies identify mitochondrial dysfunction caused by calcium overload as a key mechanism of arrhythmia during HFD. This work indicates that MCU and CaMKII could be therapeutic targets for arrhythmia caused by metabolic abnormalities.
Thermococcus kodakarensis provides a versatile hyperthermophilic archaeal platform for protein expression.

Abstract Hyperthermophiles, typically defined as organisms with growth optima ≥ 80 °C, are dominated by the Archaea. Proteins that support life at the extremes of temperatures often retain substantial biotechnological and commercial value, but the recombinant expression of individual hyperthermophilic proteins is commonly complicated in non-native mesophilic hosts due to differences in codon bias, intracellular solutes and the requirement for accessory factors that aid in folding or deposition of metal centers within archaeal proteins. The development of versatile protein expression and facilitated protein purification systems in the model, genetically tractable, hyperthermophilic marine archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis provides an attractive platform for protein expression within the hyperthermophiles. The assortment of T. kodakarensis genetic backgrounds and compatible selection markers allow iterative genetic manipulations that facilitate protein overexpression and expedite protein purifications. Expression vectors that stably replicate both in T. kodakarensis and Escherichia coli have been validated and permit high-level ectopic gene expression from a variety of controlled and constitutive promoters. Biologically relevant protein associations can be maintained during protein purifications to identify native protein partnerships and define protein interaction networks. T. kodakarensis thus provides a versatile platform for the expression and purification of thermostable proteins.