cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective and Functional Improvement Effects of Methylene Blue in Global Cerebral Ischemia

Transient global cerebral ischemia (GCI) causes delayed neuronal cell death in the vulnerable hippocampus CA1 subfield, as well as behavioral deficits. Ischemia reperfusion (I/R) produces excessive reactive oxygen species and plays a key role in brain injury. The mitochondrial electron respiratory chain is the main cellular source of free radical generation, and dysfunction of mitochondria has a significant impact on the neuronal cell death in ischemic brain. The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential beneficial effects of methylene blue (MB) in a four-vessel occlusion (4VO) GCI model on adult male rats. MB was delivered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day for 7 days, through a mini-pump implanted subcutaneously after GCI. We first found that MB significantly improved ischemic neuronal survival in the hippocampal CA1 region as measured by cresyl violet staining as well as NeuN staining. We also found that MB has the ability to rescue ischemia-induced decreases of cytochrome c oxidase activity and ATP generation in the CA1 region following I/R. Further analysis with labeling of MitoTracker® Red revealed that the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was markedly attenuated following MB treatment. In addition, the induction of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activities and the increased numbers of TUNEL-positive cells of the CA1 region were significantly reduced by MB application. Correspondingly, Barnes maze tests showed that the deterioration of spatial learning and memory performance following GCI was significantly improved in the MB-treatment group compared to the ischemic control group. In summary, our study suggests that MB may be a promising therapeutic agent targeting neuronal cell death and cognitive deficits following transient global cerebral ischemia.
Polyurea Synthesis and Properties as a Function of Hard-Segment Content

Abstract High-molecular-weight linear polyureas of different hard-segment content are obtained with a two-step solution polymerization. Elimination of water, careful choice of solvent, reactant concentration, and good control of reaction temperature are essential to obtain satisfactory results. We have studied the influence of the hard-segment content on the mechanical, dynamic-mechanical, and thermal properties of these solution polymerized amine-terminated polypropylene-oxide-based thermoplastic polyureas. Two-phase morphology is predominant within the range of the hard-segment concentration studied. Inversion of the continuous and dispersed phase might occur in the polyurea series at about 60 wt.% of hard segment. This changes the nature of the polyureas from a tough elastomeric material to a more brittle, high-modulus plastic. The modulus of the rubbery plateau measured from dynamic-mechanical spectra increases with hard-segment concentration due to the reinforcing effect of hard-segment domains. Howe...
Human Models for Identification of Photosensitizing Chemicals

The human is an appropriate and sensitive animal for identifying photosensitizing drugs administered either topically or systemically. Topically effective phototoxic agents are quite easily revealed when they are applied to normal or scarified skin which is subsequently exposed to 2 X 10(5) J.m-2 of near UV light (UVA, 320-400 nm). Systemically effective phototoxic drugs can be identified by exposing intradermally injected sites to either solar-simulating or UVA radiation. Drugs that cause photocontact allergy can usually be recognized by irradiating pretreated sites six times over a 3-week period with a solar simulator and then challenging the sites with UVA. Existing models, the human model especially, should make it possible to recognize important photosensitizing drugs before they are marketed.
Culture Risk: An Exploratory Study of the Influence of Culture on Auditors' Evaluation of Internal Control and Assessment of Control Risk

Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS) require auditors to evaluate internal control and assess control risk when performing an audit. Among the factors to be considered are the control environment, control activities, management's attitude's toward internal control, and culture. Research on how, or whether, culture influences auditors' evaluation of internal control and assessment of control risk is lacking in the literature. The purpose of this study is to serve as a first step in determining whether culture influences auditors' evaluation of internal control and assessment of control risk and if so, how. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on a non-random sample of 200 CPAs in the U.S. to determine whether there are differences in auditors' evaluation of internal control and assessment of control risk in different cultures. Using Hofstede's cultural dimensions (individualism, power distance, uncertainty avoidance and masculinity), the results of the study indicate that auditors evaluate internal control and assess control risk significantly different for companies that operate in countries that are on opposite ends of the cultural continuum as measured by Hofstede's dimensions. The results of the test suggest that for internal control there is a "culture risk" at work, that can be defined as the risk that an entity's internal control maybe be less (more) effective, with a higher (lower) degree of control risk, purely as a function of the culture in which the entity operates. Auditors assess control risk higher for companies operating in countries with a low individualism score, a high power distance score, and a low uncertainty avoidance score. They also evaluate total internal control as less effective in countries with a low individualism score, a high power distance score, a low masculinity score and a low uncertainty avoidance score. Areas for future research are suggested.
Flux Density and Air Gap Effects on Rotor Power Loss Measurements in Planar Radial Magnetic Bearings

The rotor power losses in magnetic bearings are due to eddy currents, hysteresis, and windage. The influence of air gap magnetic flux density and air gap thickness is not well understood at this time. This paper presents measured results in two magnetic bearing radial configurations with a laminated rotor. The rotor power losses were evaluated by measuring the rundown speed of the rotor, in air, after the rotor was spun up to speeds of approximately 30,000 rpm in atmospheric air. The kinetic energy of the rotor is converted to heat by magnetic and air drag power loss mechanisms during the run down. A method of separating the hysteresis, eddy current and windage losses is presented. Eddy current effects were found to be the most important loss mechanism in the data analysis. Hysteresis and windage effects did not change much from one configuration to the other. The measured rotor power loss increased significantly as the magnetic flux density increased and also increased significantly as the air gap thickness decreased.Copyright © 1997 by ASME
Life History and Male Dimorphism in the Mite Kennethiella trisetosa (Acarina: Winterschmidtiidae), and its Symbiotic Relationship with the Wasp Ancistrocerus antilope (Hymenoptera: Eumenidae)

The mite Kennethiella trisetosa is phoretic on adults of the wasp Ancistrocerus antilope and develops in the nest with immature wasps. Female mites and a large type of male develop oviparously, whereas a small male develops oviparously. Small males kill each other, but are ignored by large males. By mating with females before small males are mature, large males may monopolize fertilization. Larvae of female wasps usually destroy mites within their cells but, as adults, are reinfested when mated by mite-bearing males. Each time a male wasp mates, about half of its mites transfer to the female. The population structure of the mites has resulted in female-biased sex ratios. Despite feeding by mites on wasp body fluids, the two species could be mutually beneficial.
Childhood variant of Niemann-Pick disease: report of a case with biochemical, histochemical, and electron microscopic observations.

Studies of a young child with Niemann-Pick disease (Crocker Group B category) revealed the presence of unique, chromogenic bodies occurring in association with the foamy histiocytes of the tissues. The bodies were readily observable in and outside of cells at the light microscopic level, and electron microscopy showed them to be analogous in structure to the smaller, previously described, cytosomal inclusions of the Niemann-Pick cell. Serial examination of all intracellular structures showed a distinctive pattern of morphologic origin, progression of development, and ultimate dissolution within the histiocyte as a final sequence. As the intracellular aspect of these bodies appeared to have a limited life, it is postulated that this dissolution capability could perhaps correlate with the patient’s benign course thus far.
Alloxan in Pregnant Rats.

Summary1. In pregnant rats intravenously injected alloxan passes through the placenta into the fetal circulation within one to two minutes. 2. It does not, however, produce permanent diabetes in the offspring. 3. The blood sugar values of the fetus parallels at a lower level that of the diabetic mother until parturition.
Levels of Eosinophils, Platelets, Leukocytes and 17-Hydroxycorticosteroids During Normal Menstrual Cycle.

ConclusionsEosinopenia, thrombocytosis, leukocytosis, and increased 17-OHCS levels were demonstrated during ovulatory period. During menstruation, eosinopenia, thrombocytopenia and higher 17-OHCS levels occurred in the majority of women studied. It is suggested that stressful situations during ovulatory periods and menstruation may cause increased 17-OHCS levels with resulting eosinopenia.
Spoken keyword spotting via multi-lattice alignment.

We propose a method for finding keywords in an audio database using a spoken query. Our method is based on performing a joint alignment between a phone lattice generated from a spoken utterance query and a second phone lattice representing a long utterance needing to be searched. We implement this joint alignment procedure in a graphical models framework. We evaluate our system on TIMIT as well as on the Switchboard conversational telephone speech (CTS) corpus. Our results show that a phone lattice representation of the spoken query achieves higher performance than using only the 1-best phone sequence representation.
Quantification of the Attenuation of Storm Surge Components by a Coastal Wetland of the US Mid Atlantic

Coastal wetlands are receiving increased consideration as natural defenses for coastal communities from storm surge. However, there are gaps in storm surge measurements collected in marsh areas during extreme events as well as understanding of storm surge processes. The present study evaluates the importance and variation of different processes (i.e., wave, current, and water level dynamics with respect of the marsh topography and vegetation characteristics) involved in a storm surge over a marsh, assesses how these processes contribute to storm surge attenuation, and quantifies the storm surge attenuation in field conditions. During the Fall of 2015, morphology and vegetation surveys were conducted along a marsh transect in a coastal marsh located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, mainly composed of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens. Hydrodynamic surveys were conducted during two storm events. Collected data included wave characteristics, current velocity and direction, and water levels. Data analysis focused on the understanding of the cross-shore evolution of waves, currents and water level, and their influence on the overall storm surge attenuation. Results indicate that the marsh area, despite its short length, attenuates waves and reduces current velocity and water level. Tides have a dominant influence on current direction and velocity, but the presence of vegetation and the marsh morphology contribute to a strong reduction of current velocity over the marsh platform relative to the currents at the marsh front. Wave attenuation varies across the tide cycle which implies a link between wave attenuation and water level and, consequently, storm surge height. Storm surge reduction, here assessed through high water level (HWL) attenuation, is linked to wave attenuation across the front edge of the marsh; this positive trend highlights the reduction of water level height induced by wave setup reduction during wave propagation across the marsh front edge. Water level attenuation rates observed here have a greater range than the rates observed or modeled by other authors, and our results suggest that this is linked to the strong influence of waves in storm surge attenuation over coastal areas.
beta-VAE: Learning Basic Visual Concepts with a Constrained Variational Framework

Learning an interpretable factorised representation of the independent data generative factors of the world without supervision is an important precursor for the development of artificial intelligence that is able to learn and reason in the same way that humans do. We introduce beta-VAE, a new state-of-the-art framework for automated discovery of interpretable factorised latent representations from raw image data in a completely unsupervised manner. Our approach is a modification of the variational autoencoder (VAE) framework. We introduce an adjustable hyperparameter beta that balances latent channel capacity and independence constraints with reconstruction accuracy. We demonstrate that beta-VAE with appropriately tuned beta > 1 qualitatively outperforms VAE (beta = 1), as well as state of the art unsupervised (InfoGAN) and semi-supervised (DC-IGN) approaches to disentangled factor learning on a variety of datasets (celebA, faces and chairs). Furthermore, we devise a protocol to quantitatively compare the degree of disentanglement learnt by different models, and show that our approach also significantly outperforms all baselines quantitatively. Unlike InfoGAN, beta-VAE is stable to train, makes few assumptions about the data and relies on tuning a single hyperparameter, which can be directly optimised through a hyper parameter search using weakly labelled data or through heuristic visual inspection for purely unsupervised data.
Cleft Lip and Palate in CHARGE Syndrome: Phenotypic Features That Influence Management

Objective:Infants with syndromic cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) often require more complex care than their nonsyndromic counterparts. Our purpose was to (1) determine the prevalence of CL/P i...
Developing an appropriate staff mix for anticoagulation clinics: functional job analysis approach

Anticoagulation clinics (ACCs) are specialty clinics that manage patients with blood clotting problems. Since labor costs usually account for a substantial portion of a healthcare organization’s budget, optimizing the number and types of staff required was often the focus, especially for ACCs, where labor-intensive staff-patient interactions occur. A significant portion of tasks performed by clinical pharmacists might be completed by clinical pharmacist technicians, which are less-expensive resources. While nurse staffing models for a hospital inpatient unit are well established, these models are not readily applicable to staffing ACCs. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to develop a framework for determining the right staff mix of clinical pharmacists and clinical pharmacy technicians that increases the efficiency of care delivery process and improves the productivity of ACC staff. A framework is developed and applied to build a semi-automated full-time equivalent (FTE) calculator and compare various staffing scenarios using a simulation model. The FTE calculator provides the right staff mix for a given staff utilization target. Data collected from the ACCs at VA Boston Healthcare System is used to illustrate the FTE calculator and the simulation model. The result of the simulation model can be used by ACC managers to easily determine the number of FTEs of clinical pharmacists and clinical pharmacy technicians required to reach the target utilization and the corresponding staffing cost.
Diclofenac or paracetamol for analgesia in paediatric myringotomy outpatients.

This prospective, randomized, double-blind study compared the analgesic efficacy of oral diclofenac resinate 0.5 mg.kg(-1) with paracetamol 15 mg/kg(-1) for control of postoperative pain in paediatric patients for outpatient bilateral myringotomy and tube insertion. Paracetamol, the most commonly used oral analgesic for paediatric patients, was compared with a new palatable syrup formulation of diclofenac. Sixty-three ASA 1 orA SA 2 children aged one year and above were randomly assigned to receive diclofenac (Group A) or paracetamol (Group B). The study drug was given 30 to 60 minutes before induction of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with either inhalational sevoflurane or intravenous thiopentone. All subjects received intravenous fentanyl 1 microg/kg(-1) intraoperatively. Postoperative pain was assessed by a blinded observer using the CHEOPS score on eye-opening, and then at 10, 30 and 60 minutes. Children with a CHEOPS score > 7 received further fentanyl 1 microg x kg(-1). The number of cases requiring this "rescue" analgesia was recorded. Both groups were comparable in demographics, induction technique, duration of anaesthesia and time between premedication and induction of anaesthesia. Overall, CHEOPS scores were low for both groups at all times and did not differ between the groups at any time. Twenty per cent of the diclofenac group and 27% of the paracetamol group required rescue analgesia (not statistically significant). The efficacy of diclofenac 0.5 mg x kg(-1) and paracetamol 15 mg x kg(-1) as oral analgesic premedication for BMT was comparable in children receiving an anaesthetic which included intraoperative administration of fentanyl 1 microg x kg(-1).
Transient Freezing of a Flowing Ceramic Fuel in a Steel Channel

The extent of penetration of flowing molten ceramic fuel in steel channels before solidification is a problem that arises in the analysis of hypothetical core disruptive accidents. Considerations o...
Dynamic constraint satisfaction problems

Constraint satisfaction (CSP) is a powerful and extensively used framework for describing search problems. A CSP is typically defined as the problem of finding consistent assignment of values to a fixed set of variables given some constraints over these variables. However, for many synthesis tasks such as configuration and model composition, the set of variables that are relevant to a solution and must be assigned values changes dynamically in response to decisions made during the course of problem solving. In this paper, we formalize this notion as a dynamic constraint satisfaction problem that uses two types of constraints. Compatibility constraints correspond to those traditionally found in CSPs, namely, constraints over the values of variables. Activity constraints describe conditions under which a variable may or may not be actively considered as a part of a final solution. We present a language for expressing four types of activity constraints in terms of variable values and variables being considered. We then describe an implemented algorithm that enables tight interaction between constraints about variable activity and constraints about variable values. The utility of this approach is demonstrated for configuration and model composition tasks.
Physiologic Concerns During Rhinoplasty

The internal and external nasal valves are key to a patient’s breathing function, playing a critical role in rhinoplasty so an esthetically pleasing external nose can result without disturbing nasal breathing. The valve physiology is reviewed and a new classification of internal nasal valve pathology is presented so surgeons can avoid postoperative breathing complications after rhinoplasty.
Pediatric infectious diseases — Quo vadis 2015?

In modern medicine the discipline pediatric infectious diseases is an essential medical specialty. The challenging and complex tasks in the next years include meticulous consolidation and careful extension of existing activities aiming at conducting high level research, offering high standard teaching, and providing high quality patient management. This can only be accomplished by exquisitely dedicated individuals with extraordinary communication and integrative skills following painstaking continued training and formation. Potential careers in the discipline can be envisioned not only in academics, but also in government, public health, and industry, whilst less likely in private practice.
Iran: Scripts, Old Persian, Aramaic, Avestan

Writing systems for Iranian languages include cuneiform (Old Persian); scripts descended from ‘imperial’ Aramaic (earliest monuments of Chorasmian, Sogdian, Parthian, and Middle Persian, as well as Avestan, derived from the Middle Persian script); two Syriac scripts, Estrangelo or ‘Manichean’ (Middle Persian, Parthian, Bactrian, Sogdian, Modern Persian) and ‘Nestorian’ (Christian Sogdian, Modern Persian); Hebrew (Modern Persian and local Persian dialects: Judeo-Persian); Arabic (Modern Persian, Chorasmian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi); Brahmi (Khotanese, Tumshuqese, Sogdian); Greek (Bactrian); Cyrillic (Ossetic, Tajik); Georgian (Ossetic); and Latin (Kurdish, Ossetic).
Acute lymphatic leukaemia in childhood

It has long been appreciated that certain types of acute leukaemia in man might have a viral aetiology, a possibility that is enhanced by various experimental observations in lower animals (Gross, 1961, Epstein 1971). For the most part epidemiologic investigations of human leukaemia have been of two types: descriptive studies and time-space cluster analyses. It is unfortunate, however, that few cluster studies have considered possible differences in histologic subtype, age, seasonality and urban-rural factors. The potential importance of these factors in acute lymphatic leukaemia of childhood is discussed in this chapter and a hypothesis concerning the possible aetiology of this disorder is suggested.
Urban Geomorphology of an Arid City: Case Study of Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract The urban metropolis of Phoenix, Arizona, USA rests on classic desert landforms, including extensive areas of pediments, alluvial fans, aeolian sand sheets, and former areas of desert pavement. The Phoenix area landforms exemplify classic desert geomorphic processes, such as rock varnish accretion, the rock decay processes of dirt cracking, desert pavement formation, rockfall, debris flows, high magnitude-low frequency flooding events, and pedimentation. Recent urban expansion has pushed housing up against the base of steep desert slopes capable of generating debris flows, rockfalls, and rockslides. Other geomorphic hazards experienced by urbanism in the desert include dust storms and flash flooding. The Phoenix metropolitan region offers an opportunity to explore the impact of the Anthropocene, the proposed new geological epoch defined by the human imprint, in a warm desert setting impacted by cattle crazing, wildfire that results from introduced grass species, and urbanization processes, such as road building and home construction.
SAMPLING IN THE WILD: HOW ATTENTION TO VARIATION SUPPORTS MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SAMPLING PRACTICE

Sampling is a fundamental practice of many scientific disciplines. However, K–12 students are rarely asked to think critically about sampling decisions. Because of this, open questions remain about how best to support students in this practice. This study explores the emergent sampling practice of two classes of sixth-grade students as they investigate the ecology of a local creek. It draws on student interviews, pre/post-tests, student artifacts, and video recordings of classroom activity to identify and trace shifts in the ways in which students approached collecting data. The findings suggest three ways in which students’ attention to variation within the context of their ecological investigations supported their development of a more sophisticated practice of sampling. First published May 2018 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
Real-Time Implementation of Selective Harmonic Elimination with Seamless Dynamic Performance

This paper presents a novel approach to significantly reducing the mathematical complexity that is associated with the selective harmonic elimination (SHE), which allows for the real-time implementation of SHE with a reasonable utilization of the computational power of the digital controller. First, the transcendental equations of the optimization problem are converted to set algebraic equations using Chebyshev polynomials. Second, the set of algebraic equations is reduced to a single univalent polynomial using generalized Newton's identities. The roots of the polynomial hold the unique solution to the optimization problem. It is shown that the root of the univalent polynomial can be solved in real-time by direct substitution with no initial guess or iteration. The proposed implementation method reduces the computational effort required by the controller and features improved transient response during a step change in the modulation index, the switching frequency, and the fundamental frequency without being subjected to the transient current spikes of the conventional SHE methods.
A 290-mV, 7-nm Ultra-Low-Voltage One-Port SRAM Compiler Design Using a 12T Write Contention and Read Upset Free Bit-Cell

In this paper, we present an ultra-low voltage one-port static random access memory (SRAM) compiler targeting small to medium array sizes to provide a smaller area solution compared to conventional 6T-based SRAMs. A 12T write contention and read upset free bit-cell are used in the design. Array architecture employs a read–modify–write scheme to support bit-write (BW) masking and column multiplexing. Built-in-self-test (BIST) and synchronous write-through (SWT) options are also supported to provide testability features, while power management (PM) option is included to provide low-leakage sleep and shut-down modes. The proposed design is fabricated in 7-nm FinFET technology and achieves the lowest reported $V_{\mathrm {min}}$ of 290 mV in this technology.
Pediatric dysphonia: It's not about the nodules.

Abstract Objective Despite the fact that vocal nodules are the most common cause of chronic dysphonia in children, uncertainty and lack of consensus complicates practically every diagnostic and management decision. Selecting an optimal staging system is fundamental to understanding a disease process, mandatory for uniform reporting, and crucial to predicting natural history and treatment outcomes. The ideal prognostic model for vocal nodules is under intense debate. The purpose of this study was to analyze the predictive power of vocal nodule grade to severity of voice metrics in children. Methods Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with vocal cord nodules between 2006 and 2012 were drawn from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Voice, Resonance and Swallowing Center Research Registry. Subject age at time of diagnosis, nodule grade, relevant co-morbidities, scores on The Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice (CAPE-V), parent-reported Pediatric Voice Handicap Index (pVHI), the phonotraumatic behaviors profile, habitual speaking pitch fundamental frequencies, pitch range, volume intensity, and s/z ratio were recorded and compiled into a de-identified database for analysis. Results Based on the Kruskal-Wallis H Test, there was no statistically significant correlation between nodule grade and total pitch range (p = .21), s/z ratio (p = .50), volume intensity (p = .33), overall CAPE-V Scores (p = .15), or pVHI Scores (p = .29). Chi-squared tests also revealed no significant associations between nodule grade and abnormality in habitual speaking pitch (p = .14 for fundamental frequency while sustaining a vowel sound, p = .37 for fundamental frequency while speaking structured tasks i.e. counting, or p = .76 while speaking in conversation). Conclusion The current “gold-standard” for grading vocal nodule size suggests that the nodules themselves are not driving the standard dysphonic metrics that are most commonly collected and monitored in such children. This outcome is consistent with other studies reporting similar findings and was expected based on the inconsistencies in the reported literature to date. By extension, the conventional wisdom of avoiding surgical treatment of vocal nodules in children seems prudent as there is little evidence to suggest that the nodules themselves are “driving” the severity of the dysphonia. Ultimately identifying the true “drivers” of dysphonia in children will suggest alternative therapies that are more specific and directed to the pathophysiology. Most pediatric voice care professionals will welcome such discoveries as those in the front line of patient care are often rendered helpless and frustrated.
Continuous Energy and Its Relation to Discrete Energy

This chapter deals with the continuous minimal energy problem on a compact set A in \(\mathbb R^p\) with respect to a symmetric and lower semicontinuous kernel K. The asymptotic behavior as N gets large of the discrete minimal energy problem on A (introduced in Section 2.1) is also studied when A has nonzero K-capacity; i.e., finite Wiener constant.
Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of a Point-Like Structure Subjected to Tornadic Wind Loads

AbstractTo quantify the monetary losses associated with damages induced by tornado wind storms, a numerical performance-based engineering framework complete with dynamic simulation of tornado-like ...
Anticipating and Planning for the Duration of Counseling

One parameter of the treatment planning process that needs more attention is the expected duration of counseling. Mental health counselors should be prepared to discuss with new clients both the ty...
Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric kidney transplant in the United States.

In March 2020, COVID-19 infections began to rise exponentially in the USA, placing substantial burden on the healthcare system. As a result, there was a rapid change in transplant practices and policies, with cessation of most procedures. Our goal was to understand changes to pediatric kidney transplantation (KT) at the national level during the COVID-19 epidemic. Using SRTR data, we examined changes in pediatric waitlist registration, waitlist removal or inactivation, and deceased donor and living donor (DDKT/LDKT) events during the start of the disease transmission in the USA compared with the same time the previous year. We saw an initial decrease in DDKT and LDKT by 47% and 82% compared with expected events and then a continual increase, with numbers reaching expected prepandemic levels by May 2020. In the early phase of the pandemic, waitlist inactivation and removals due to death or deteriorating condition rose above expected values by 152% and 189%, respectively. There was a statistically significant decrease in new waitlist additions (IRR 0.49 0.65 0.85) and LDKT (IRR 0.17 0.38 0.84) in states with high vs. low COVID activity. Transplant recipients during the pandemic were more likely to have received a DDKT, but had similar calculated panel–reactive antibody (cPRA) values, waitlist time, and cause of kidney failure as before the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic initially reduced access to kidney transplantation among pediatric patients in the USA but has not had a sustained effect.
Validation of the newly FDA-approved Buhlmann fCal Turbo assay for measurement of fecal calprotectin in a pediatric population.

Abstract Objectives Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an increasingly prevalent disorder marked by chronic intestinal inflammation. Fecal calprotectin has emerged as a useful biomarker for differential diagnostics and monitoring IBD activity. We validated the newly FDA-approved fCal Turbo fecal calprotectin assay in our pediatric hospital. Design and methods The performance of the fCal Turbo assay was assessed on the Vitros 5600 analyzer (Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, USA), including limit of quantitation, linearity, precision, and interference studies. Method comparison was performed with 20 fecal samples with the Buhlmann fCal ELISA, and reference range verification was performed with 33 fecal samples. Results The fCal Turbo assay on the Vitros 5600 was linear between 33.1 and 14,182.5 ​μg/g, with dilution studies extending the range to 33.1–22,000 ​μg/g, Reproducibility of the assay met acceptability criteria, with intra-assay CV of 0.3–3.2% and inter-assay CV of 5.2–8.9%. Interference studies identified acceptable thresholds for protein, bilirubin, and lipids. We verified a reference range of 33.1–60 ​μg/g in our patient population. Deming regression identified acceptable correlation with minor positive bias (2.7%) between the fCal Turbo and fCal ELISA methods. Conclusions The fCal Turbo assay performs well on the Vitros 5600 analyzer in our patient population, with the assay being easy to use in our routine chemistry workflow. We anticipate that the fCal Turbo assay will be useful as a rapid screening method for differential diagnostics and disease monitoring of IBD in our patient population.
Comparison of Young Adult Female Cancer Survivors Recruited from a Population-Based Cancer Registry to Eligible Survivors.

Background: Population-based cancer registries provide a resource to recruit young adult cancer survivors who may not be easily identified otherwise. Methods: We compared demographic and cancer-related characteristics of participants in a cohort of female young adult cancer survivors to those of eligible survivors in the Georgia Cancer Registry, a population-based registry in the United States. We examined associations between survivor characteristics and non-participation using logistic regression and associations between survivor characteristics and different types of non-participation (refusal, unable to contact, or unresolved vs. interviewed) using polytomous regression. Results: The Georgia Cancer Registry was able to contact 60% of eligible women (3,061/5,137). Of those, 78% agreed to study contact (n=2,378), and of those, 56% were interviewed (n=1,342). Participation was similar across age at contact and at diagnosis but varied across cancer type from 17% for cervical cancer to 32% for breast cancer. White women were slightly more likely to be interviewed (28%) than African-American women (23%), which was mostly attributable to greater difficulty in contacting African-American women (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.5, 2.1). Conclusions: The greatest challenge to recruiting women was contacting them, which differed across some but not all demographic and cancer-related characteristics. When successfully contacted, most survivors agreed to participate. Impact: Population-based cancer registries can serve as an invaluable resource to recruit representative samples of young adult cancer survivors, who are otherwise difficult to identify.
Holistic Study and Analysis of Factors Affecting Collaborative Planning in Construction

AbstractThe fragmentation of the construction industry led to the development of innovative approaches including collaborative planning, relational contracting, integrated project delivery, advance...
Respiratory muscle training and exercise ventilation while diving at altitude.

Introduction Pre-dive altitude exposure may increase respiratory fatigue and subsequently augment exercise ventilation at depth. This study examined pre-dive altitude exposure and the efficacy of resistance respiratory muscle training (RMT) on respiratory fatigue while diving at altitude. Methods Ten men (26±5 years; VO2peak: 39.8±3.3 mL• kg-1•min-1) performed three dives; one control (ground level) and two simulated altitude dives (3,658 m) to 17 msw, relative to ground level, before and after four weeks of resistance RMT. Subjects performed pulmonary function testing (e.g., inspiratory [PI] and expiratory [PE] pressure testing) pre- and post-RMT and during dive visits. During each dive, subjects exercised for 18 minutes at 55% VO2peak, and ventilation (VE), breathing frequency (ƒb,), tidal volume (VT) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. Results Pre-dive altitude exposure reduced PI before diving (p=0.03), but had no effect on exercise VE, ƒb, or VT at depth. At the end of the dive in the pre-RMT condition, RPE was lower (p=0.01) compared to control. RMT increased PI and PE (p<0.01). PE was reduced from baseline after diving at altitude (p<0.03) and this was abated after RMT. RMT did not improve VE or VT at depth, but decreased ƒb (p=0.01) and RPE (p=0.048) during the final minutes of exercise. Conclusion Acute altitude exposure pre- and post-dive induces decrements in PI and PE before and after diving, but does not seem to influence ventilation at depth. RMT reduced ƒb and RPE during exercise at depth, and may be useful to reduce work of breathing and respiratory fatigue during dives at altitude.
Monopoles, non-linear σ models, and two-fold loop spaces

In this paper we study the topology of\(\hat M_k\), the moduli spaces ofSU(2) monopoles associated with the Yang-Mills-Higgs and Bogomol'nyi equations, and ℜ(m)k, non-linear σ models from quantum field theory. Beautiful work of Donaldson [18, 19], Hitchin [24, 25] and Taubes [37, 39, 40] shows that gauge equivalence classes of monopoles correspond to based rational self-maps of the Riemann sphere. Similarly, the non-linear σ models we consider here are based harmonic maps from the Riemann sphere to complex projectivem space. In seminal work, Segal [35] studied ℛ(m)k, the space of based rational maps from the Riemann sphere to complex projectivem space of a fixed degreek. Any element of ℛ(m)k is clearly an element of Ωk2CP(m), the space of all based continuous maps from the Riemann sphere to complex projectivem space of a fixed degreek, and this assignment gives rise to the natural inclusion of ℛ(m)k in Ωk2CP(m). Segal showed that these natural inclusions are homotopy equivalences through dimensionk(2m − 1). As the topology of the two-fold loop space Ω2CP(m) is well understood, Segal's result gives a very efficient way to explicitly determine the low dimensional topology of ℛ(m)k. Thus iterated loop spaces have much to say about the topology of monopoles and non-linear σ models.
Strength of the CαH··O Hydrogen Bond of Amino Acid Residues *

Although the peptide C(alpha)H group has historically not been thought to form hydrogen bonds within proteins, ab initio quantum calculations show it to be a potent proton donor. Its binding energy to a water molecule lies in the range between 1.9 and 2.5 kcal/mol for nonpolar and polar amino acids; the hydrogen bond (H-bond) involving the charged lysine residue is even stronger than a conventional OH..O interaction. The preferred H-bond lengths are quite uniform, about 3.32 A. Formation of each interaction results in a downfield shift of the bridging hydrogen's chemical shift and a blue shift in the C(alpha)H stretching frequency, potential diagnostics of the presence of such an H-bond within a protein.
Turning the Knobs: A Coaching Pattern for XP through Agile Metrics

I want to turn the knobs to 10, but my job position doesn't allow me to dictate that my team do so. Even if it did, forcing XP may serve only to cause resentment and backlash. Though I've been learning XP for over a year, it's still new to the rest of our team, and we're used to our old habits. By giving team members control of how extreme to be through a 'teaching survey', the team has started at a comfortable level of XP and has opened the door to future extremes. We've used the survey to define, coach, and track our XP process and have increased our use of XP by 10% in three months.
Willingness to pay for continued delivery of a lifestyle‐based weight loss program: The Hopkins POWER trial

Objective In behavioral studies of weight loss programs, participants typically receive interventions free of charge. Understanding an individual's willingness to pay (WTP) for weight loss programs could be helpful when evaluating potential funding models. This study assessed WTP for the continuation of a weight loss program at the end of a weight loss study. Methods WTP was assessed with monthly coaching contacts at the end of the two-year Hopkins POWER trial. Interview-administered questionnaires determined the amount participants were willing to pay for continued intervention. Estimated maximum payment was calculated among those willing to pay and was based on quantile regression adjusted for age, body mass index, race, sex, household income, treatment condition, and weight change at 24 months. Results Among the participants (N = 234), 95% were willing to pay for continued weight loss intervention; the adjusted median payment was $45 per month. Blacks had a higher adjusted median WTP ($65/month) compared to Non-Blacks ($45/month), P = 0.021. Conclusions A majority of participants were willing to pay for a continued weight loss intervention with a median monthly amount that was similar to the cost of commercial weight loss programs.
UBQLN2 mutation causing heterogeneous X‐linked dominant neurodegeneration

We report a 5-generation family with phenotypically diverse neurodegenerative disease including relentlessly progressive choreoathetoid movements, dysarthria, dysphagia, spastic paralysis, and behavioral dementia in descendants of a 67-year-old woman with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Disease onset varied with gender, occurring in male children and adult women. Exome sequence analyses revealed a novel mutation (c.1490C>T, p.P497L) in the ubiquilin-2 gene (UBQLN2) with X-linked inheritance in all studied affected individuals. As ubiquilin-2-positive inclusions were identified in brain, we suggest that mutant peptide predisposes to protein misfolding and accumulation. Our findings expand the spectrum of neurodegenerative phenotypes caused by UBQLN2 mutations.
Effects of Revealing Final Deadlines on Negotiation Outcomes

Conventional wisdom holds that negotiators who are under time pressure should avoid revealing their final deadlines to the other side, especially if they are in a weak position. The present study questions this conventional wisdom. The experiment manipulates timepressure on the negotiators, knowledge of that time pressure, and each side's power at the bargaining table. Power is manipulated by varying the quality of each side's alternatives to negotiated agreement (BATNAs). Results show that negotiators benefited from revealing their final deadlines, regardless of the strength of their BATNAs. The reasons why this simple lesson is counterintuitive, and why negotiators mistakenly believe they ought to keep their deadlines secret, are discussed.
Widespread intraspecific organismal stoichiometry among populations of the Trinidadian guppy

Summary 1. Ecological stoichiometry expresses ecological interactions as the balance between multiple elements. It relates the ecological function of organisms to their elemental composition, or their organismal stoichiometry. Organismal stoichiometry is thought to reflect elemental investments in life history and morphology acting in concert with variability in abiotic or environmental conditions, but the relative contribution of these factors to natural variability in organismal stoichiometry is poorly understood. 2. We assessed the relative contribution of stream identity, predation, body size and sex to the organismal stoichiometry of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in six streams in Trinidad. In this system, guppy life-history phenotype evolves in response to predation. Guppies adapted to high-predation (HP) pressure grow faster, mature earlier, produce fewer and smaller offspring and eat a higher-quality diet than guppies adapted to low-predation (LP) pressure. This pattern of life-history evolution is repeated in many rivers encompassing a wide range of abiotic conditions. 3. Organismal stoichiometry of guppies was widely variable, spanning up to ∼70% of the range of variability reported across freshwater fish taxa. Streams from where guppies were sampled were the most important predictor of organismal stoichiometry. In many cases, guppy populations from sites within the same stream varied as much as from sites in different streams. 4. Surprisingly, predation regime was a minor predictor of % C, C : P and C : N in female guppies, despite its strong correlation with life-history phenotype and other organismal traits in this species. Body size and sex were not significant predictors of organismal stoichiometry. 5. Guppies from HP sites were more stoichiometrically balanced with their diets than guppies from LP sites. The latter appeared to be more vulnerable to phosphorus limitation than the former, suggesting that dietary specialization associated with guppy life-history phenotype may have stoichiometric consequences that can affect guppy physiology and nutrient recycling. 6. Our findings suggest that local environmental conditions are a stronger predictor of organismal stoichiometry than organismal traits. We recommend that future work should explicitly consider correlations between organismal traits and organismal stoichiometry in the context of environmental heterogeneity.
Transport of Reactive Solute in Soil and Groundwater

The extensive impacts to soil and groundwater by contaminants such as chlorinated solvents and petroleum hydrocarbons can be attributed to their widespread use in the United States and to their persistence in the environment. Understanding the fate and transport of these pollutants and other solutes is essential for the protection of water supplies and successful field site remediation. Subsurface solute fate and transport is dictated by processes that fall into the general categories of hydrodynamic, abiotic, and biotic. Hydrodynamic processes that include advection and dispersion influence flow patterns through the vadose zone and in groundwater. Those processes that impact solute interactions with the surrounding aquifer matrix, such as sorption or the composition of the contaminant itself, are known as abiotic. The biotic category is variable based on available substrates and nutrients, but under certain favorable conditions, these microbial processes can have a profound impact on contaminant structures and their longevity in the environment. Transport processes are extremely difficult to quantify because of the vast heterogeneities encountered in the field; however, improving our comprehension continues to be an area of extensive research for many science and engineering fields. Keywords: subsurface transport; abiotic processes; hydrodynamic processes; biotic processes; diffusion; advection; dispersion; sorption; hydrolysis; oxidation-reduction reactions; volatilization; cosolvency effect
The Workings of Simurgh Metaphor in Distributed Leadership

This article offers an organizational metaphor based on an Iranian epic Manteq-o-Teyr or The Logic of Flight. The metaphor is shaped by the story of a wise hoopoe bird whose dream was to reach a mountain called Qaf and find the great king of birds called Simurgh or Thirty Birds. The new enlightenment resonated with the Conference of the Birds, captures the idea of why and how leader and followers should connect their consciousness to each other to achieve a higher level of wisdom, mythically called Simurgh. The story communicates a metaphor that works in favor of explaining organizational components such as design, structure, environment, and boundaries in a distributed style of leadership as practiced by the hoopoe and his follower birds as a community of practice through collective wisdom.