cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influences of users' familiarity with visual search topics on interactive video digital libraries

User-centered analysis can benefit the development of interactive video digital libraries. Findings from this study support the idea that having additional understanding about the intended users of video digital libraries can help researchers match system designs with the envisioned use of prototype systems. This study examines one user-centered factor specifically, familiarity with visual search topics, to explore if and how this may be associated with other factors within an interactive video retrieval context. Twenty-eight users from the field of science education were recruited to complete six visual search topics using a prototype system to retrieve video clips from a collection of NASA Science Education Programs. Analysis revealed that topic familiarity was associated with other factors that were examined throughout this study, including user-assessed and experimenter-assessed topic completion ratios, opinions of the prototype system, and interaction behaviors. Such results can have a variety of implications for developing video digital libraries, especially those designed to support queries and interactions of knowledgeable users from a defined domain. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Radioimmunoassay for Cortisol in Plasma and Urine

ABSTRACT A radioligand assay for the measurement of cortisol in plasma and urine has been developed. Antibodies raised against cortisol-21-hemisuccinate conjugated to bovine serum albumin had a high affinity for cortisol (K = 2 × 109 1/mole). A standard curve was established with a useful range from 0.10–4.0 ng. Plasma cortisol is readily measured by directly assaying small aliquots of a methylene chloride extract of plasma. Urine free cortisol was assayed after a single TLC of a methylene chloride extract of urine. Intraassay variability of both urine and plasma cortisol determinations was 10%; interassay variability was 20–26%. This method is particularly useful for measurement of 24-hr urine free cortisol.
Inversion algorithms for remote sensing of sea ice

In certain cases available electromagnetic measurements may not contain sufficient information to reconstruct sea ice parameters such as thickness, extent or concentration. In this study it is shown that by incorporating additional information provided by dynamical equations governing sea ice physics, the electromagnetic inverse problem can be constrained sufficiently to achieve more accurate reconstructions. To accomplish this, the time series data is processed within the constraints of dynamical equations to achieve the inversion. To demonstrate the concept, a theoretical thermodynamic model is used in conjunction with an electromagnetic model to predict the evolution of sea ice growth. >
Markets: The Credit Rating Agencies

This paper will explore how the financial regulatory structure propelled three credit rating agencies -- Moody's, Standard & Poor's (S&P), and Fitch -- to the center of the U.S. bond markets -- and thereby virtually guaranteed that when these rating agencies did make mistakes, these mistakes would have serious consequences for the financial sector. We begin by looking at some relevant history of the industry, including the series of events that led financial regulators to outsource their judgments to the credit rating agencies (by requiring financial institutions to use the specific bond creditworthiness information that was provided by the major rating agencies) and when the credit rating agencies shifted their business model from "investor pays" to "issuer pays." We then look at how the credit rating industry evolved and how its interaction with regulatory authorities served as a barrier to entry. We then show how these ingredients combined to contribute to the subprime mortgage debacle and associated financial crisis. Finally, we consider two possible routes for public policy with respect to the credit rating industry: One route would tighten the regulation of the rating agencies, while the other route would reduce the required centrality of the rating agencies and thereby open up the bond information process in a way that has not been possible since the 1930s.
Efaproxiral: should we hold our breath?

Suh et al breathe a bit of new life into two long-standing endeavors with their report in this issue of a phase III study of whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) and efaproxiral (RSR13), a hemoglobin modifier meant to increase tissue oxygenation. For decades, radiation oncologists have sought to enhance tumor control and patient survival by addressing the problem of hypoxia and, separately, to improve results of WBRT by sensitization, dose escalation, or altered fractionation. In this large randomized trial, efaproxiral added to WBRT and oxygen breathing increased median survival time from 4.4 to 5.4 months (P .16) and the overall response rate from 38% to 46% (P .10). Larger gains were seen in the combined non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and breast cancer subset, for whom the median survival time improved from 4.4 to 6.0 months (P .07) and overall response rate improved from 41% to 54% (P .01).
A pole-zero adaptive algorithm for speech processing

A pole-zero adaptive algorithm is presented for selective spectral matching. This algorithm is capable of forming highly selective spectral envelopes for accurate fitting of frequency components. This adaptive technique can be employed to reduce the data rate in transform coding of speech, by efficiently 'packing' magnitude and phase information on a spectral envelope. Pole-zero algorithms have been developed and employed in system identification, as well as in spectral matching. In this work, a frequency-selective adaptive process is proposed for the spectral matching of the harmonic frequency components of speech. This process is based on the equation-error adaptive model. >
Efficient symmetric and inverse-consistent deformable registration through interleaved optimization

Symmetry and inverse consistency are two important features for deformable image registration in medical imaging analysis. This work presents a novel registration method computing symmetric and inverse-consistent image alignment efficiently while preserving high accuracy and consistency of the mapping. This is achieved by optimizing a symmetric energy functional estimating forward and backward transformations constrained by the transformations being inverse to each other. In other words, this approach uses an interleaved optimization scheme borrowed from multiobjective optimization theory constrained by an inverse-consistency criterium. The new optimization scheme provides an efficient search in the space of diffeomorphisms while solving the symmetric registration problem. Moreover, it is not bound to any specific optimizer or energy functional other than to the requirement of being well-defined. In our experiments on clinical cardiac data, superior performance compared to standard, one-directional registration is achieved. The resulting inverse-consistency and symmetry errors match previously reported values while being computed more efficiently. This general approach addresses a clinical need for consistent, highly accurate image alignment achieved in a practically accepted time-frame.
The Voice of Time: The Style of Narration in a Newsmagazine

This article analyzes “Timestyle” in order to identify the persona in the Nation and World sections of Time, a weekly newsmagazine. The sample for the study consisted of articles by 30 staff writers, articles that were randomly selected from Time's 1988 issues. These articles were analyzed in six categories adapted from Walker Gibson's Style Machine: (a) word size and familiarity, (b) subject words and pronouns, (c) verbs, (d) modifiers, (e) sentence length and subordination, and (f) other effects of tone. The analysis suggests that Time's narrative voice is a powerful one. The narrator has the power to put us at ease, engage our feelings, secure our trust, and divert our attention.
Echocardiographic visualization of acute pulmonary embolus and thrombolysis in the ED

Echocardiography has been used to diagnose acute right-sided dysfunction arising from pulmonary embolism (PE). Rarely, it can visualize the embolic material in the right heart cavities. We report a case of acute PE that was seen in the right ventricle and right pulmonary artery using bedside transthoracic echocardiography in the ED. As a result of the prompt diagnosis of a massive embolus and associated right ventricular dysfunction, the patient was treated with thrombolytics. Serial echocardiographs confirmed the response to therapy and the dissolution of thrombi. In this report, echocardiographic findings of acute PE and indications of thrombolytics in PE are also reviewed from the literature. Based on available evidence, those patients who present with cardiogenic shock from PE, and young patients with acute PE leading to right ventricular dysfunction benefit the most from early thrombolytic therapy.
Caffeine induces TP53-independent G1-phase arrest and apoptosis in human lung tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner

Abstract Qi, W., Qiao, D. H. and Martinez, J. D. Caffeine Induces TP53-Independent G1-Phase Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Lung Tumor Cells in a Dose-Dependent Manner. Radiat. Res. 157, 166–174 (2002). Caffeine is a model radiosensitizing agent that is thought to work by abrogating the radiation-induced G2-phase checkpoint. In this study, we examined the effect that various concentrations of caffeine had on cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis in cells of a human lung carcinoma cell line and found that a concentration of 0.5 mM caffeine could abrogate the G2-phase arrest normally seen after exposure to ionizing radiation. Surprisingly, at a concentration of 5 mM, caffeine not only induced apoptosis by itself and acted synergistically to enhance radiation-induced apoptosis, but also induced a TP53-independent G1-phase arrest. Examination of the molecular mechanisms by which caffeine produced these effects revealed that caffeine had opposing effects on different cyclin-dependent kinases. CDK2 activity was su...
The effectiveness of creative drama as an instructional strategy to enhance the reading comprehension skills of fifth‐grade remedial readers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to measure the growth of reading comprehension skills of fifth‐grade remedial reading students after their exposure to a treatment of creative drama integrated with children's literature reading material. Three groups, each with 17 fifth‐grade remedial reading students, comprised the sample in this study. Group 1 read selected children's literature stories and participated in creative dramatic activities. Group 2 read and discussed, by traditional methods, the same children's literature stories as Group 1. Group 3 continued with their normal Chapter 1 curriculum during the treatment period. The groups were given the Metropolitan Reading Comprehension Test (MAT6) as pre‐ and posttests. Additionally, Groups 1 and 2 were given weekly criterion‐referenced tests. ANOVA showed that Group 1 achieved significant mean gain scores at the .05 level on the MAT6, whereas the other groups showed no gain from pretest to posttest. Analysis of the weekly criterion‐referenced test sho...
Is the diversity of the Beach Flies adequately known? Some reflections on the state of the art of current knowledge (Diptera: Canacidae)

An overview of the major zoogeographical gaps in our knowledge of the world beach flies (subfamilies Apetaeninae, Horaismopterinae, Pelomyiinae, and Tethininae) is provided. The identified areas treated in this work are as follows: the subarctic Beringia, the South American circum-Antarctic islands, the Neotropical Region south of the equator, most of the West African seacoasts, the huge area ranging from India, across the Bay of Bengal, to Sumatra and Java, and most of Australia. Apart from the inhospitable northernmost and southernmost areas of the planet, which feature a real very low biodiversity, the remaining vast areas dealt with in this work woefully suffer a dramatic paucity of field collections, as well as of previously collected materials preserved in scientific institutions. This might seem a truism that, however, must be emphasized in order to unequivocally identify the geographic areas that need to be further investigated
Curvature Invariants, Characteristic Classes, and the Petrov Classification of Space-Times

An identity is derived which relates the integrands occurring in the theory of characteristic classes of a Lorentzian four-dimensional space with the divergence of a vector field formed from the connection 1-forms and curvature 2-forms of the manifold. The two-component spinor formalism is used to express this identity in compact form.
Choosing Your Reasons for an Action: Moral Permissibility, Willful Action, and the Doctrine of Double Effect

I argue here that you can choose both to perform an act that you are morally required to perform, and to do so without acting on a reason that you take yourself to have and take to be sufficient for action. This argument is significant because it undermines one of the arguments Judith Jarvis Thomson makes against the Doctrine of Double Effect (DDE), one that presupposes that you cannot perform an act and at the same time avoid doing so for whatever reasons you take yourself to have and take to be sufficient for action. The argument offered here is also significant for the light it shines on the linked notions of moral permissibility and choice. If we are to take seriously (a) that permissibility applies only to choices that you can make, and (b) the limits of what you can choose, then the ability to choose willfully—that is to choose to act contrary to what you think you have sufficient reason to do—is crucial to permissibility covering the range of choices we think it covers. This point is relevant both to the possibility of being required to choose your reasons and to the possibility of being required to act in certain ways. Choice is at best only guided, not determined, by reason. The will fills the gap between reasons and actions, and it is crucial for understanding choice to remember that the will may act rationally, a-rationally, or irrationally (i.e. willfully).
Insomnia and Other Sleep Disorders

Upon completion of the chapter, the student will be able to: 1. List the most common sleep complaints in older adults. 2. Understand the definition, diagnostic features, and therapeutic options of common sleep disorders in older adults. 3. Know the rules of sleep hygiene for the elderly.
Incident tick-borne infections in a cohort of North Carolina outdoor workers.

Tick-borne diseases cause substantial morbidity throughout the United States, and North Carolina has a high incidence of spotted fever rickettsioses and ehrlichiosis, with sporadic cases of Lyme disease. The occupational risk of tick-borne infections among outdoor workers is high, particularly those working on publicly managed lands. This study identified incident tick-borne infections and examined seroconversion risk factors among a cohort of North Carolina outdoor workers. Workers from the North Carolina State Divisions of Forestry, Parks and Recreation, and Wildlife (n = 159) were followed for 2 years in a randomized controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of long-lasting permethrin-impregnated clothing. Antibody titers against Rickettsia parkeri, Rickettsia rickettsii, "Rickettsia amblyommii," and Ehrlichia chaffeensis were measured at baseline (n = 130), after 1 year (n = 82), and after 2 years (n = 73). Titers against Borrelia burgdorferi were measured at baseline and after 2 years (n = 90). Baseline seroprevalence, defined as indirect immunofluorescence antibody titers of 1/128 or greater, was R. parkeri (24%), R. rickettsii (19%), "R. amblyommii" (12%), and E. chaffeensis (4%). Incident infection was defined as a fourfold increase in titer over a 1-year period. There were 40 total seroconversions to at least one pathogen, including R. parkeri (n = 19), "R. amblyommii" (n = 14), R. rickettsii (n = 9), and E. chaffeensis (n = 8). There were no subjects whose sera were reactive to B. burgdorferi C6 antigen. Thirty-eight of the 40 incident infections were subclinical. The overall risk of infection by any pathogen during the study period was 0.26, and the risk among the NC Division of Forest Resources workers was 1.73 times that of workers in other divisions (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 2.92). The risk of infection was lower in subjects wearing permethrin-impregnated clothing, but not significantly (risk ratio = 0.81; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.39). In summary, outdoor workers in North Carolina are at high risk of incident tick-borne infections, most of which appear to be asymptomatic.
Effects of Training Base Rates and Transfer Similarity: A Comparison of Two Visual Search Scenarios

Research has documented that high levels of signal probability (or base rates) during training positively impact transfer of learning when transfer stimuli differ from training stimuli. Whether this transfer performance varies significantly from situations where transfer stimuli are identical to training stimuli is unknown. To examine this, participants (scenario 1: n = 36, scenario 2: n = 33) performed a visual search task wherein they were trained on one of three base rates: 100%, 50%, 20%; at transfer, participants detected the same targets used during training (scenario 1) or novel targets (scenario 2), at a base rate of 20%. Higher base rates improved transfer (higher hit rates) only when transfer stimuli differed from training stimuli. When transfer stimuli were identical to training stimuli, differential base rate training did not have significant effects on transfer performance. These results have implications for improving training modules for operators in vigilance tasks.
Structure of Shear Bands in Zirconium-Based Metallic Glasses Observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy

We have used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate the structure of shear bands produced by bending electron-transparent Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 metallic glass specimens. Shear bands were located by comparing the structure of the specimens before and after deformation. The shear band spacing is influenced by the structure of the specimen; portions of the specimen with a significant population of nanocrystals show a smaller separation between shear bands. Quantitative high resolution TEM analysis based on ratio technique has been used to explore the defect structure in shear bands. High density and void-like defects with size of about 1 nm were found in shear bands formed in both amorphous and nanocrystalline areas. A simple model was proposed to explain the formation of these defects.
Electron theory of Mg-Al alloy solid solution strengthening

Based on the empirical electron theory of solids and molecules(EET),the statistical values of electron structure parameter n′Aof Mg-Al alloy cell,whose mass fraction is 0,2%,4%,6%,8%,10%,were calculated by using the average atoms model;and the solid solution strengthening coefficient SMg-Alwhich characterizes the strengthening effect of alloy,whose values are 1,1.008 73,1.017 47,1.026 29,1.035 11,1.043 94,respectively,were calculated by using the n′A;the relationship between electron structure parameter σNand the stability of alloys was studied. The results show that with the increase of Al content,the values of n′Aand σNare enhanced,and the binding ability between atoms and the stability of Mg matrix are reinforced,which plays a solid solution strengthening effect. The larger the SMg-Alvalue is,the better solid solution strengthening effect is.
Synthesis and characterization of trimethylallylammonium chloride

Synthesis of trimethylallylammonium chloride was studied in this paper.Trimethylammonium chloride was allowed to react with allyl chloride under different conditions.The yields at various temperatures、reaction mixture compositions and reaction times were determined.The yields were determined by NaBPh_4 gravimetric analysis method.Meanwhile the structure of trimethylallylammomium chloride was characterized by IR and ()~1HNMR.
Revealing Activation Mechanism of Alk2 Kinase Mutations in Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder resulting in transformation of soft tissue into episodic bone formation. Most of patients die around age 40 and no effective therapy is available. The causative genetic mutations have been identified in the intracellular glycine-serine-rich (GS) domain and kinase domain of Activin-like kinase-2 (ALK2, also known as ACVR1), a type I receptor of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)1. Cumulative studies support that these mutations abnormally activate BMP signaling in a ligand- dependent or independent manner. The molecular mechanisms underlying FOP remains unclear. To test a long-standing hypothesis that FOP mutations reducing the ALK2 interaction with the negative regulator FKBP12 protein, we performed extensive molecular dynamic studies of ALK2 systems. Six systems were simulated in explicit solvent for at least 300 nanoseconds each: ALK2WT, ALK2Q207E, ALK2R206H, and ALK2R206H+ (with protonated histidine), in complex with FKBP12, as well as phosphorylated ALK2 GS-domain with and without FKBP12.Our results show that both the phosphorylated and mutated ALK2 break a major inhibitory Arg375-Asp354 salt-bridge between A-loop and DLG motif, which initiates A-loop conformation change from DLG-in toward DLG-out. But in wild-type ALK2, this salt-bridge remains intact throughout 300 ns trajectory. Furthermore, the dissociation of FKBP12 triggers the formation of a Glu248-Lys235 salt-bridge between αC helix and β3 strand. Altogether, we conclude that the R206H promotes dissociation of FKBP from ALK2 and triggers αC helix swing toward the catalytic domain, which indicates the kinase shifting towards active conformation. Interestingly, Q207E model can trigger the formation of Glu248-Lys235 salt bridge (αC swing) without the FKBP dissociation. This finding well explains the different responses to inhibitory FKBP12 among FOP mutations in the reported luciferase assay for ALK2 activity2.1. Hum Mutat 30:3792. J Biol Chem 287:36990
Iterative usability testing as continuous feedback: a control systems perspective

This paper argues that in the field of usability, debates about number of users, the use of statistics, etc. in the abstract are pointless and even counter-productive. We propose that the answers depend on the research questions and business objectives of each project and thus cannot be discussed in absolute terms. Sometimes usability testing is done with an implicit or explicit hypothesis in mind. At other times the purpose of testing is to guide iterative design. These two approaches call for different study designs and treatment of data. We apply control systems theory to the topic of usability to highlight and frame the value of iterative usability testing in the design lifecycle. Within this new metaphor, iterative testing is a form of feedback which is most effective and resource-efficient if done as often as practically possible with project resources and timelines in mind.
Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing Redo Operations Using Ferromagnetic Dissection and Conventional Monopolar Dissection

Purpose. To evaluate effectiveness of a novel hemostatic dissection tool in patients with congenital heart disease undergoing redo pericardiac dissections. Description. This dissection tool employs ferromagnetic energy to cut and coagulate. The unit passes no electric current through the patient, thus eliminating cautery-induced dysrhythmias and electrical interference. Ferromagnetic dissection is precise and reduces thermal injury spread by as much as 90%. Evaluation. We case matched 22 patients undergoing reoperation for congenital heart surgery by weight/operation. Group 1 used the ferromagnetic tool, and Group 2 used conventional monopolar cautery for pericardiac dissection. For groups 1 and 2, the mean weight was 27.7 and 28.4, respectively (P = .87). Time (minutes) from skin incision to cardiopulmonary bypass was 71 versus 72 (P = .44), cardiopulmonary bypass (minutes) was 75.6 versus 73.6 (P = .42), total operative time (minutes) was 193 versus 201 (P = .34). Chest tube output/kilogram in first 6 a...
Lipid Biosynthesis Coordinates a Mitochondrial-to-Cytosolic Stress Response

Defects in mitochondrial metabolism have been increasingly linked with age-onset protein-misfolding diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s. In response to protein-folding stress, compartment-specific unfolded protein responses (UPRs) within the ER, mitochondria, and cytosol work in parallel to ensure cellular protein homeostasis. While perturbation of individual compartments can make other compartments more susceptible to protein stress, the cellular conditions that trigger cross-communication between the individual UPRs remain poorly understood. We have uncovered a conserved, robust mechanism linking mitochondrial protein homeostasis and the cytosolic folding environment through changes in lipid homeostasis. Metabolic restructuring caused by mitochondrial stress or small-molecule activators trigger changes in gene expression coordinated uniquely by both the mitochondrial and cytosolic UPRs, protecting the cell from disease-associated proteins. Our data suggest an intricate and unique system of communication between UPRs in response to metabolic changes that could unveil new targets for diseases of protein misfolding.
Photobioelectrocatalysis of Intact Chloroplasts for Solar Energy Conversion

Recently, interest in photosynthetic energy conversion has substantially increased. Chloroplasts, the photosynthetic organelle inside higher plants and algae, are the ultimate source of carbon-based fuels. However, they have been less studied in a photobioelectrochemical cell, because their electrochemical communication at an electrode surface is challenging due to their complex membrane system. Although redox polymers are widely used for mediating bioelectrocatalysis, they have never been explored for wiring chloroplasts to electrodes. Herein, a naphthoquinone-functionalized linear poly(ethylenimine) (NQ-LPEI) redox polymer is used as an electron transfer (ET) mediator as well as the immobilization matrix for chloroplasts. They are immobilized on Toray carbon paper electrodes (TPs), and the photoexcited ET from water oxidation is evaluated, showing that intact chloroplasts can undergo direct electron transfer (DET) and mediated electron transfer (MET). Photocurrent generation by DET of chloroplasts resul...
Unusual cause of infant pancytopenia: granulomatous bone marrow lesion with disseminated histoplasmosis.

![Figure][1] A 3-month-old previously healthy male infant from the midwestern United States presented with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia (white blood cell count, 2.66 × 109/L; hemoglobin, 9.1 g/dL; platelet count, 51 × 109/L). Peripheral blood smear showed anisopoikilocytosis
Re-Placing Outdoor Education: Diversity, Inclusion, and the Microadventures of the Everyday.

With the increased emphasis on sustainability and place-based education, along with a heightened sense of awareness of diversity and inclusion issues in outdoor education, the time has come to critically examine the long-held trip and expedition construct within the outdoor education field. This paper will explore the theoretical influences of Romanticism on the field and connect these influences to long-standing and unresolved issues of diversity and inclusion in outdoor education. Using the romantic concept of the “sublime,” I argue that outdoor and adventure education have traditionally settled around the organizing motif of the trip and the expedition in contrast with local and everyday experiences, and as a result, these frameworks have caused the field to miss opportunities for wider acceptance and usage as well as solidarity with like-minded pedagogies in environmental and place-based education. In this paper, I claim that a critical awareness of the romantic legacy, combined with a renewed focus on the concept of place and everyday experiences, will allow the fields of outdoor and adventure education to expand in influence and inclusion. Subscribe to JOREL
Morpholino oligomers tested in vitro, in biofilm and in vivo against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen and many strains are multidrug resistant. KPC is one of the most problematic resistance mechanisms, as it confers resistance to most β-lactams, including carbapenems. A promising platform technology for treating infections caused by MDR pathogens is the nucleic acid-like synthetic oligomers that silence bacterial gene expression by an antisense mechanism. Objectives To test a peptide-conjugated phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PPMO) in a mouse model of K. pneumoniae infection. Methods PPMOs were designed to target various essential genes of K. pneumoniae and screened in vitro against a panel of diverse strains. The most potent PPMOs were further tested for their bactericidal effects in broth cultures and in established biofilms. Finally, a PPMO was used to treat mice infected with a KPC-expressing strain. Results The most potent PPMOs targeted acpP, rpmB and ftsZ and had MIC75s of 0.5, 4 and 4 μM, respectively. AcpP PPMOs were bactericidal at 1-2 × MIC and reduced viable cells and biofilm mass in established biofilms. In a mouse pneumonia model, therapeutic intranasal treatment with ∼30 mg/kg AcpP PPMO improved survival by 89% and reduced bacterial burden in the lung by ∼3 logs. Survival was proportional to the dose of AcpP PPMO. Delaying treatment by 2, 8 or 24 h post-infection improved survival compared with control groups treated with PBS or scrambled sequence (Scr) PPMOs. Conclusions PPMOs have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents against KPC-expressing, MDR K. pneumoniae.
The Plastic Piping Industry in North America

Publisher Summary Of all thermoplastics, PVC is by far the most widely used in piping applications. Overall, it has excellent basic properties, may be easily processed, and is very economic in cost. PVC is a thermally sensitive thermoplastic to which various ingredients must be added to stabilize it and allow it to be processed. Heat stabilizers are required as well as lubricants, fillers, processing aids, pigments, and impact modifiers. Unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (U-PVC) has excellent chemical resistance, which, combined with the smooth surfaces of the interior pipe wall, minimizes scaling and gives excellent flow characteristics, which remain constant during the pipe's service life. Polyethylene is the second most widely used thermoplastic in piping applications. Similar to PVC, it has excellent basic properties, may be easily processed, and is economic in cost. PE is more thermally stable than the PVC, but does require stabilizers to prevent damage during processing and in service. Polyethylene has excellent chemical resistance to both acidic and basic chemicals as well as organic chemicals. PE is much more flexible than PVC and in smaller diameter piping can be coiled. Thus the major thermoplastic piping materials used are PVC and high-density polyethylene. These materials constitute more than 90% of the total market.
Lead and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Environmental lead remains an important public health concern despite successful reductions in its presence in recent decades. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, impairing, and poorly understood behavioral disorder with many associated cognitive features. Although ADHD is influenced by genetic liability, it also has environmental influences. Older studies at relatively high levels of lead exposure showed an association of lead exposure with reduced IQ as well as with attention problems and hyperactivity. Recent studies have extended this association down to levels consistent with current background exposure levels in the population.
Annie and FixIt: showcasing dynamic guidance for task-based exploratory learning

The ITS field has benefitted from a shared consensus of proven techniques for intelligent scaffolding [4], but common techniques to solve the unique challenges of exploratory or inquiry-based tutoring have proven more elusive [3, 1].
Transfer of Cyclobenzaprine into Human Milk and Subsequent Infant Exposure

Introduction:Cyclobenzaprine is a skeletal muscle relaxant primarily used in the treatment of pain. Its use during lactation is a matter of concern as its level of exposure to infants through human...
Thiol Versus Thiolate Ligation on Cadmium Selenide Quantum Belts

Addition of thiols to semiconductor nanocrystals influences their photoluminescence efficiencies; however, the mode of ligation—as neutral thiol ligands or as anionic thiolate ligands—is rarely clearly established. We now differentiate these ligation modes on wurtzite CdSe quantum belts (QBs). n-Dodecanethiol and n-dodecanethiolate ligations of CdSe QBs are obtained through ligand exchanges. Reaction of {CdSe[Cd(oleate)2]0.19} QBs and sodium n-dodecanethiolate affords {CdSe[n-C12H25S]0.23[Na]0.23} QBs, having bound-ion-pair X-type ligation. Reaction of {CdSe[Cd(oleate)2]0.19} QBs and n-dodecanethiol affords {CdSe[Cd(n-dodecanethiolate)2]0.22} QBs, having Cd(n-dodecanethiolate)2 ligands as Z-type ligation. {CdSe[Cd(n-dodecanethiolate)2]0.22} QBs are also prepared by reaction of {CdSe[n-octylamine]0.53} QBs and Cd(n-dodecanethiolate)2. Reaction of {CdSe[Br]0.1[(n-octyl)4N]0.1} QBs and n-dodecanethiol affords {CdSe[n-dodecanethiol]0.26} QBs, having L-type ligation. {CdSe[n-dodecanethiol]0.26} QBs are also pr...
Hybrid Mitral Valve Replacement: A Heart-Team Approach to Severe Mitral Annular Calcification.

AbstractMitral annular calcification tends to be significant in patients of advanced age or with underlying processes such as increased mechanical stress. When severe, it can significantly affect p...
Portion-control intervention for people with serious mental illness: A feasibility study.

Purpose Portion control can be an effective weight-loss strategy for people with serious mental illnesses (SMI). This study aimed to examine the feasibility of portion-control intervention (PCI) for people with SMI. Design and methods A randomized experimental design was used. The PCI group received weekly, telephone-delivered behavioral counseling over 12 weeks. Newsletter group received monthly newsletters regarding healthy eating. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze data collected at baseline and at 12 weeks. Findings The acceptability of the PCI and significant decreases in waist circumference among the participants of the PCI group were reported. Practice implications Simple and structured guidelines to manage portion size, akin to those featured in our PCI, can benefit those with SMI.
Perioperative Fluid Resuscitation in Free Flap Breast Reconstruction: When Is Enough Enough?

Perioperative liberal fluid resuscitation (LFR) can result in interstitial edema and venous congestion and may be associated with compromised perfusion of free flaps and higher incidence of wound complications. We hypothesized that restrictive intraoperative fluid resuscitation improves flap perfusion and lowers the wound complication rate in free flap breast reconstruction. Methods Patients undergoing free flap reconstruction of the breast from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The study population was divided into 2 groups, LFR (≥7 ml/kg/h) and restrictive fluid resuscitation (RFR) (<7 ml/kg/h). Mean percutaneous oximetry readings of the flap over the first 24 hours were recorded. Primary outcome was development of any wound complication. Secondary outcomes were mean percutaneous oximetry readings within the first 24 hours, length of stay, and development of acute kidney injury. Results One hundred twenty-six patients were identified, with 41 patients undergoing LFR. The mean fluid received for the RFR group was 5.5 versus 10.2 ml/kg/h for the LFR group (P < 0.001). LFR resulted in a significantly higher incidence of wound complications (76% versus 15%, P < 0.001). The mean oximetry readings within 24 hours were significantly lower for the LFR group (41% versus 56%, P < 0.001). Urine output intraoperatively and within the first 24 hours was similar between the 2 groups. No patients developed acute kidney injury. Conclusion RFR in free flap breast reconstruction is associated with increased flap perfusion and lower incidence of wound-related complications and should be considered whenever possible.
The Double-ITCZ Bias in CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 Models Based on Annual Mean Precipitation

The double‐intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) bias is one of the most outstanding errors in all previous generations of climate models. Here, the annual double‐ITCZ bias and the associated precipitation bias in the latest climate models for Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) Phase 6 (CMIP6) are examined in comparison to their previous generations (CMIP Phase 3 [CMIP3] and CMIP Phase 5 [CMIP5]). All three generations of CMIP models share similar systematic annual multi‐model ensemble mean precipitation errors in the tropics. The notorious double‐ITCZ bias and its big inter‐model spread persist in CMIP3, CMIP5, and CMIP6 models. Based on several tropical precipitation bias indices, the double‐ITCZ bias is slightly reduced from CMIP3 or CMIP5 to CMIP6. In addition, the annual equatorial Pacific cold tongue persists in all three generations of CMIP models, but its inter‐model spread is reduced from CMIP3 to CMIP5 and from CMIP5 to CMIP6.
Student Interns and Their Field Supervisors’ Perceptions of a School Psychology Training Program to Support Emergent Bilinguals

School psychologists are increasingly placed in advocacy roles to support a growing diverse population of emergent bilinguals (EBs). The pre-training practices of school psychology programs that pr...
Association of Women Surgeons 2020 Presidential Address: Sculpting our Future.

Abstract This article is a textual record of the Presidential Address from the Association of Women Surgeons Annual Conference in 2020. This year (2020) has been a tumultuous year exposing inequities in Surgery and health care. Even during these challenging times, the ability to sculpt our future rests in our hands. We will do this by returning to our values based on resilience, by advocating for equity, by speaking up for our future colleagues and by changing the perception of who may be a surgeon. Progress will require a change in the status quo so that a surgeon is defined not be her phenotype but by her strong mind, caring heart and skillful hands. During our journey, we will try and fail but we will not let failure deter us. We will collaborate with each other and our colleagues. Much like a sculptor who use the fissures, cracks, and imperfections of the stone to guide her masterpiece, we too will use these challenges to sculpt our future.
Reduction of phone interruptions post implementation of a central call center in community pharmacies of an academic health system

PURPOSE A pharmacy services call center (PSCC) was implemented to centralize pharmacy phone calls and reduce interruptions of dispensing activities in 7 community pharmacies of an academic health center. An evaluation was conducted to define, quantify, and compare the numbers and types of phone interruptions before and 3 months after PSCC implementation. METHODS Through structured, direct observation of pharmacy staff, the numbers and types of "breaks in task" (BIT) due to phone interruptions and other distractions were identified. A standardized data collection tool formatted on tablet computers was used by trained observers to document BIT for 3-hour time blocks on 5 consecutive business days (2 days of pharmacist observation and 3 days of technician observation, for a total of 10 observation days per pharmacy). RESULTS Over 5,000 prescriptions were processed during 414 hours of observation (13.3 prescriptions per observation hour). Overall, BIT due to phone interruptions totaled 2.2 BIT per observation hour, with those interruptions reduced by 46.4% overall after PSCC implementation (by 30.0% in 4 small pharmacies and by 57.5% in 3 large pharmacies). Technicians were more likely than pharmacists to be interrupted by phone vs nonphone BIT (eg, distraction by another technician, pharmacist, or patient). Comparison of phone vs nonphone BIT suggested an overall 46.0% reduction in phone BIT in all pharmacies (reductions of 42.4% and 45.0% in large and small pharmacies, respectively). CONCLUSION PSCC implementation noticeably decreased the amount of phone interruptions and distractions for employees.
BitemporalDB: A Bitemporal Database in the Cloud for Financial Services Data

There is tremendous pressure on financial services organizations to ensure the highest quality of data on which to base their risk and capital adequacy calculations. The widely used method to persist data is known as mono-temporally in which the database tracks the time of data insertion. This approach does not allow for subsequent data adjustments to be tracked, however. The BitemporalDB is a Bitemporal database that uses two time-dimensions to track data: database dimension and business dimension. Together, one is able to provide data lineage that is required for most financial audit purposes. In addition, as the volume and velocity of datapoints could vary greatly, the BitemporalDB schema allows for quick search that is able to find a desired data with only two lookups that span the entire dataset.
Long-Memory and Level Shifts in the Volatility of Stock Market Return Indices

Recently, there has been an upsurge of interest in the possibility of confusing long memory and structural changes in level. Many studies have shown that when a stationary short memory process is contaminated by level shifts the estimate of the fractional differencing parameter is biased away from zero and the autocovariance function exhibits a slow rate of decay, akin to a long memory process. We analyze the properties of the autocorrelation function, the periodogram and the log periodogram estimate of the memory parameter when the level shift component is specified by a simple mixture model. Our theoretical results explain many findings reported and uncover new features. We confront our theoretical predictions using log-squared returns as a proxy for the volatility of some assets returns, including daily S&P 500 returns over the period 1928-2002. The autocorrelations and the path of the log periodogram estimates follow patterns that would obtain if the true underlying process was one of short-memory contaminated by level shifts instead of a fractionally integrated process. A simple testing procedure is also proposed, which reinforces this conclusion.
Risk of renal failure and death when renal arteries are involved in endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Abstract Objective Endovascular abdominal aortic repair can involve the incorporation of renal arteries. Revascularization after intentional or unintentional renal artery (RA) coverage is not always technically successful, and the loss of a single RA may result in the need for postoperative dialysis. Thus, we compared the outcomes after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) stratified by RA involvement (RAI). Methods Patient data from the Vascular Quality Initiative from 2009 to 2018 registry were analyzed. The exclusion criteria were preoperative dialysis, missing RAI data, and repair above the superior mesenteric artery. The repair type cohorts were defined as (1) no RAI (NRAI), (2) RAI with revascularization (RAI-R), and (3) RAI with no revascularization (RAI-NR). A sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding ruptured presentations. The primary outcome was the need for postoperative dialysis. The secondary outcomes were 30-day mortality, dialysis at follow-up, postoperative renal function, and 2-year survival. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the independent predictors for postoperative dialysis. The 2-year survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier log-rank test. Results Of 54,020 patients in the EVAR and TEVAR (thoracic EVAR)/complex EVAR modules in the Vascular Quality Initiative, 25,724 met the criteria for inclusion (NRAI, n = 24,879; RAI-R, n = 733; RAI-NR, n = 112). The demographics and comorbidities were similar among the three groups. The RAI-NR group had more frequently had ruptured or symptomatic aneurysms. The postoperative dialysis requirement was higher in the RAI-NR group (NRAI, 0.7%; RAI-R, 2.2%; RAI-NR, 17%; P Conclusions RAI is highly predictive of the need for postoperative and permanent dialysis after EVAR. RAI-NR was associated with lower overall survival. These risks should be considered when planning and performing EVAR and should be weighed against the risks of open repair when considering the treatment options.
Identification of activity-induced Egr3-dependent genes reveals genes associated with DNA damage response and schizophrenia

Abstract Bioinformatics and network studies have identified the immediate early gene transcription factor early growth response 3 (EGR3) as a master regulator of genes differentially expressed in the brains of patients with neuropsychiatric illnesses ranging from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder to Alzheimer’s disease. However, few studies have identified and validated Egr3-dependent genes in the mammalian brain. We have previously shown that Egr3 is required for stress-responsive behavior, memory, and hippocampal long-term depression in mice. To identify Egr3-dependent genes that may regulate these processes, we conducted an expression microarray on hippocampi from wildtype (WT) and Egr3-/- mice following electroconvulsive seizure (ECS), a stimulus that induces maximal expression of immediate early genes including Egr3. We identified 71 genes that were differentially expressed between WT and Egr3-/- mice one hour following ECS. Bioinformatic analyses showed that many of these are altered in schizophrenia. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed the GADD45 (growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible) family (Gadd45b, Gadd45g) as the leading category of differentially expressed genes. Together with differentially expressed genes in the AP-1 transcription factor family genes (Fos, Fosb), and the centromere organization protein Cenpa, these results revealed that Egr3 is required for activity-dependent expression of genes involved in the DNA damage response. Our findings implicate EGR3 as gene critical for the expression of genes that are disrupted in schizophrenia and reveal a novel requirement for EGR3 in the expression of genes involved in activity-induced DNA damage response.
Liver Abscesses in Beef Cattle

The prevalence and economic impact of liver abscesses in feedlot cattle are well documented.7 Abscessed livers in slaughtered feedlot cattle generally result from an aggressive feeding program, with incidence averaging from 12% to 32% in most feedlots.3 Because liver abscesses are secondary to ruminal acidosis and rumenitis, such feeding practices as rapid increase in energy intake and poor or inconsistent bunk management - characterized by irregular feeding (both amounts and intervals) - promote a higher incidence of liver abscesses.4 While abscesses are the leading cause ofliver condemnation, the greatest economic impact of liver abscesses is from reduced animal performance and carcass yield. Reported effects of abscesses on animal performance have ranged from no effect to a depression in daily gain as great as 11% and a decrease in feed efficiency as much as 9.7%.3 Cattle with multiple and/or large liver abscesses also may require more carcass trimming because of adhesion of abscesses to the diaphragm and surrounding organs. In some instances, condemnation of the entire viscera is necessary, contributing to significant economic loss.