cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health vlogger-viewer interaction in chronic illness management

Health video blogs (vlogs) allow individuals with chronic illnesses to share their stories, experiences, and knowledge with the general public. Furthermore, health vlogs help in creating a connection between the vlogger and the viewers. In this work, we present a qualitative study examining the various methods that health vloggers use to establish a connection with their viewers. We found that vloggers used genres to express specific messages to their viewers while using the uniqueness of video to establish a deeper connection with their viewers. Health vloggers also explicitly sought interaction with their viewers. Based on these results, we present design implications to help facilitate and build sustainable communities for vloggers.
A modified on-off model for conversational speech with short silence gaps

Modifications to P.T. Brady's (1969) six-state model for the on-off patterns in conversational speech are proposed in order to incorporate short speaking pauses while preserving the characteristics of longer silent gaps (long speaking pauses and listening pauses) and also preserving the dynamics of the interaction between speaking parties. The modifications are based on data concerning the characteristics of short speaking pauses and long speaking pauses in monologue speech, which are shown to be consistent with the data on long speaking pauses and uninterrupted talkspurt lengths in Brady's original six-state model.
Independent contribution of myocardial perfusion defects to exercise capacity and heart rate recovery for prediction of all-cause mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary heart disease☆

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine the value of thallium201single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging for prediction of all-cause mortality when considered along with functional capacity and heart rate recovery. BACKGROUND Myocardial perfusion defects identified by thallium201SPECT imaging are predictive of cardiac events. Functional capacity and heart rate recovery are exercise measures that also have prognostic implications. METHODS We followed 7,163 consecutive adults referred for symptom-limited exercise thallium SPECT (mean age 60 ± 10, 25% women) for 6.7 years. Using information theory, we identified a probable best model relating nuclear findings to outcome to calculate a prognostic nuclear score. RESULTS There were 855 deaths. Intermediate- and high-risk prognostic nuclear scores were noted in 28% and 10% of patients. Compared with those with low-risk scans, patients with an intermediate-risk score were at increased risk for death (14% vs. 9%, hazard ratio: 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44 to 1.95, p < 0.0001), while those with high-risk scores were at greater risk (24%, hazard ratio: 2.98, 95% CI: 2.49 to 3.56, p < 0.0001). In multivariable analyses that adjusted for clinical characteristics, functional capacity and heart rate recovery, an intermediate-risk nuclear score remained predictive of death (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.28 to 1.76, p < 0.0001), as did a high-risk score (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.76, 95% CI: 2.13 to 2.56, p < 0.0001). Impaired functional capacity and decreased heart rate recovery provided additional prognostic information. CONCLUSIONS Myocardial perfusion defects detected by thallium SPECT imaging are independently predictive of long-term all-cause death, even after accounting for exercise capacity, heart rate recovery and other potential confounders.
LuxArray, a High-Density, Genomewide Transcription Analysis of Escherichia coli Using Bioluminescent Reporter Strains

A sequenced collection of plasmid-borne random fusions of Escherichia coli DNA to a Photorhabdus luminescens luxCDABE reporter was used as a starting point to select a set of 689 nonredundant functional gene fusions. This group, called LuxArray 1.0, represented 27% of the predicted transcriptional units in E. coli. High-density printing of the LuxArray 1.0 reporter strains to membranes on agar plates was used for simultaneous reporter gene assays of gene expression. The cellular response to nalidixic acid perturbation was analyzed using this format. As expected, fusions to promoters of LexA-controlled SOS-responsive genes dinG, dinB, uvrA, and ydjM were found to be upregulated in the presence of nalidixic acid. In addition, six fusions to genes not previously known to be induced by nalidixic acid were also reproducibly upregulated. The responses of two of these, fusions to oraA and yigN, were induced in a LexA-dependent manner by both nalidixic acid and mitomycin C, identifying these as members of the LexA regulon. The responses of the other four were neither induced by mitomycin C nor dependent on lexA function. Thus, the promoters of ycgH, intG, rihC, and a putative operon consisting of lpxA, lpxB, rnhB, and dnaE were not generally DNA damage responsive and represent a more specific response to nalidixic acid. These results demonstrate that cellular arrays of reporter gene fusions are an important alternative to DNA arrays for genomewide transcriptional analyses.
First rule: choose your battles wisely.

To the Editor. I disagree with Dr Kopelman's analysis of the 21-year-old “Baby Doe” rules and her call for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to withdraw what she characterized as its “apparent” support for those rules.1 She argues that the Baby Doe rules are incompatible with other AAP recommendations to use the best-interest standard for decision-making for the care of infants. Dr Kopelman believes that neonatologists, who interpret the current Baby Doe rules to allow considerable discretion for individualized decision-making, …
Predicted Risk of Mortality Models: Surgeons Need to Understand Limitations of the University HealthSystem Consortium Models

Background The University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) mortality risk adjustment models are increasingly being used as benchmarks for quality assessment. But these administrative database models may include postoperative complications in their adjustments for preoperative risk. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of the UHC with the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk-adjusted mortality models for adult cardiac surgery and evaluate the contribution of postoperative complications on model performance. Study Design We identified adult cardiac surgery patients with mortality risk estimates in both the UHC and Society of Thoracic Surgeons databases. We compared the predictive performance and calibration of estimates from both models. We then reestimated both models using only patients without any postoperative complications to determine the relative contribution of adjustments for postoperative events on model performance. Results In the study population of 2,171 patients, the UHC model explained more variability (27% versus 13%, p Conclusions Although the UHC model demonstrated better performance in the total study population, this difference in performance reflects adjustments for conditions that are postoperative complications. The current UHC models should not be used for quality benchmarks.
A Checklist of the Bryophytes of the California Channel Islands

Abstract An annotated, vouchered checklist of the bryophytes of the California Channel Islands is presented, including the known distribution of each species across the eight islands. The bryoflora currently comprises 158 minimally ranked taxa. Fifty-nine mosses, two hornworts, and twenty-two liverworts are reported for the first time from the islands. Fifteen species previously reported from the archipelago are excluded based on new determinations and nomenclatural changes. The bryoflora includes two putative undescribed species in the Bryaceae, Plagiobryoides sp. from Santa Catalina Island and Gemmabryum sp. from Santa Rosa Island. Excluding these two putative new species, no new state records are reported. One species, Tortula californica, is listed by the California Native Plant Society at the 1B rank. Previous reports from the literature are catalogued and nomenclatural changes are noted. There are no island endemics, with the possible exception of the two putative undescribed species. The bryoflora ...
Transmission Factors: Yersinia pestis Genes Required to Infect the Flea Vector of Plague

Y. pestis Ymt and Hms proteins have complementary but distinct roles. Ymt is required for survival in the midgut compartment, but not the proventriculus compartment, of the flea digestive tract. Conversely, the hms genes are not required to infect the midgut, but are required to infect the proventriculus. In addition to ymt and hms, the outer surface plasminogen activator of Y. pestis is considered to be important for fleaborne transmission, although this role does not occur in the flea (Hinnebusch et al., 1998). Sodeinde et al., (2002) showed that Pla is important for dissemination from a subcutaneous inoculation site in mice. This finding suggested that pla is pertinent to the fleaborne life-cycle of Y. pestis, which demands that the bacteria be able to disseminate from the dermis where they are deposited by a flea. Notably, ymt and pla are located on plasmids that are unique to Y. pestis. Thus, acquisition of these two plasmids by horizontal transfer helps to account for the rapid evolutionary transition of Y. pestis to fleaborne transmission within the last 20,000 years.
A Company of Equals: Success Through Friendship in Fellowship.

For the 2015 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in San Diego, California, several Duke Cardiology fellows decided to try something different. Instead of staying in private hotel rooms, we rented a house in Old Town San Diego where we stayed together in a family-style atmosphere. We
PGANE News

Because of its conceptual simplicity, random modulation of the main bang is an attractive solution to the resolution problem in digital ranging. The accuracy of such a scheme in the presence of gate jitter has been analyzed in this paper and the results show that it can effectively reduce the resolution error.
Shakedown under Elastic Support Conditions

A two span beam with a central elastic support was analyzed for incremental collapse under two loading conditions. In each case a modest support flexibility increased the shakedown load until it equalled the static collapse load. Further reduction of support stiffness then produced a dramatic decrease in the collapse load. Incremental collapse is a more significant factor in the design of structures with elastic supports than it is in the design of conventional structures.
Refugee trauma versus torture trauma : A retrospective controlled cohort study of Tibetan refugees

A retrospective cohort study of 35 refugee Tibetan nuns and lay students who were arrested and tortured in Tibet matched with 35 controls who were not arrested or tortured was carried out in India. Subjects were administered the Hopkins Checklist-25, evaluating anxiety symptoms, effective disturbances, somatic complaints, and social impairment. The prevalence of symptom scores in the clinical range for both cohorts was 41.4% for anxiety symptoms and 14.3% for depressive symptoms. The torture survivors had a statistically significant higher proportion of elevated anxiety scores than did the nontortured cohort (54.3% vs. 28.6%, p = .05). This was not true for elevated depressive scores. The results suggest that torture has long-term consequences on mental health over and above the effects of being uprooted, fleeing one's country, and living in exile as a refugee, though the additional effects were small. Political commitment, social support in exile, and prior knowledge of and preparedness for confinement and torture in the imprisoned cohort served to foster resilience against psychological sequelae. The contribution of Buddhist spirituality plays an active role in the development of protective coping mechanisms among Tibetan refugees.
Abstract 949: Disruption of growth hormone signaling improves the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy in a rat model of mammary cancer

Epidemiological and laboratory based studies suggest that the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor I (GH/IGF-I) axis is positively correlated with a variety of different cancer types. In recent years, our research team has developed animal models to explore the role of GH signaling in carcinogenesis. These include rat and mouse models of mammary, prostate and colon cancer in which the GH receptor is knocked out, antagonized or GH itself is knocked out. In all of these models, we observed a significant (50% or more) disruption in carcinogenesis when GH signaling is impaired compared to normal controls. Our initial studies demonstrated that carcinogenesis can be effectively inhibited by the disruption of GH signaling in animals lacking genes for wild-type GH or the GH receptor. These findings are consistent with a recent report by Guevara-Aguirre and colleagues (Sci Transl Med 3: 70ra13, 2011) who found that a population lacking a functional GH receptor (Laron syndrome) were cancer free except for one patient whose ovarian cancer did not recur after chemotherapy. A control cohort of relatives suffered a 20% mortality rate from cancer. The response of the Laron patient9s tumor to chemotherapy inspired us to hypothesize that the lack of GH signaling may render a tumor more vulnerable to conventional chemotherapy. To test this hypothesis, we treated 6 Spontaneous Dwarf rats (SDR) with GH (150 μg/kg twice daily) beginning at 3 weeks of age; 6 control rats received vehicle injections. At 4 weeks of age, all rats were exposed to a single injection of the mammary carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (50 mg/kg). Once a rat developed a mammary tumor of 1cm in diameter, GH or vehicle injections were halted and doxorubicin (1.25 mg/kg; 6 injections over 2 weeks) treatments began. The dose of doxorubicin that was chosen was lower than that normally used to induce regression in this model. We observed that tumor growth in wild-type rats was stopped and remained static during treatment with doxorubicin. In contrast, the tumors of SDR rats, lacking GH, all regressed in response to doxorubicin treatment (p Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 949. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-949
Favorability Toward Nuclear Power: The Role of the Availability Heuristic and Knowledge:

Three studies were conducted to test the effects of availability and knowledge on favorability ratings toward nuclear power. In the first study, students listed advantages, risks, or both of using ...
Laboratory Investigation of Seat Suspension Performance During Vibration Testing

Mining injury statistics show that a significant number of back, neck, and head injuries are linked to exposure from vehicle vibration. Use of a suspension seat is a common way to isolate the vehicle operator from the adverse effects of vibration exposure. Thus, researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health1 - Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (NIOSH - PRL) performed laboratory studies on four passive and two semi-active seat suspension designs. These are typical of seat suspensions commonly found on large off-road heavy surface mining, construction and agricultural vehicles as either replacement or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) systems. One included a pneumatic (air bladder) spring mechanism. The fifth and sixth suspensions were a NIOSH magnetorheological (MR) semi-active damper design based on the pneumatic (air bladder) and one of the coil spring suspensions above. These suspensions were modified with a commercially available MR damper substituted for the OEM damper. These six seat suspension systems were tested and analyzed, for vertical vibration only, using the ISO 5007 Standard [1]. This paper describes the laboratory vibration tests using a MTS® shaker table and discusses the results obtained for the different suspension designs and highlights the rheonetic technology studied. Implications of the seat suspension designs relative to their capabilities for isolating vehicle operators from vibration exposure are discussed. Results for suspensions 1 through 3 showed frequencies of isolation from 2.1 to 3.0 Hz using the 40-kg (88-lb) mass and from 1.65 Hz to 1.8 Hz using the 80-kg (176-lb) mass. Suspension #4, in tests with only the 80-kg (176-lb) mass, showed an isolation frequency of 3.7 Hz. With the MR damper added to seat suspension #4, the peak transmissibility was lowered from 1.3 to 0.95 and showed a corresponding downward shift in frequency from 2.25 Hz to 1.4 Hz. In fact, the results for suspension #5 (the MR damper added to seat suspension #4), using test #3 conditions of the programmed control algorithm, showed isolation (attenuation of transmitted vibration) throughout the test frequency range from 1.0 to 6.0 Hz.© 2006 ASME
Who is Likely to Present in Poor Neurologic Condition After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage? Risk Factors and Implications for Treatment.

Objective Neurologic condition at presentation is the most important predictor of morbidity and mortality from aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). To guide management, it is important to identify patients who are at risk of presenting in poor neurologic condition after aSAH. Methods We retrospectively reviewed medical records and imaging studies for 387 consecutive cases of aSAH that were managed at a major academic neurovascular center in the United States from January 2008 to December 2013. Clinically accessible patient and aneurysm characteristics were evaluated by univariable analysis and multivariable logistic regression to identify predictors of poor neurologic status at presentation. Results For all aneurysms, multivariable logistic regression identified age (odds ratio [OR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00–1.04; P = 0.0129), aneurysm size (≥7 and P = 0.0429; ≥10 mm: OR, 3.22; 95% CI, 1.82–5.70; P P = 0.0060) as independent predictors of poor neurologic condition at presentation. For internal carotid artery (ICA) aneurysms, female gender (OR, 9.21; 95% CI, 1.54–55.1; P = 0.0151), hypertension (OR, 8.67; 95% CI, 1.80–41.7; P = 0.007), and size ≥7 mm (OR, 3.67; 95% CI, 0.852–15.8; P = 0.0807) were predictive of poor neurologic condition at presentation, with a C statistic of 0.842. No association was found between poor neurologic grade at presentation and smoking status or warfarin therapy. Conclusions Independent predictors of poor neurologic grade were identified for all, ICA, anterior cerebral artery/anterior communicating artery, middle cerebral artery, and posterior circulation aneurysms. A risk prediction chart was constructed using clinically accessible patient and aneurysm characteristics for poor presenting neurologic condition after ICA aneurysm rupture. These factors should be considered when counseling patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
The Influential Books in Sport Humanistic Sociology

Sport humanistic sociology is an important branch of sports science. Analyzing the influential books in this field will identify the current state of research in the field and promote further development of the discipline. This paper considered the cited times as the evaluation criteria of academic influence,and selected 141 books as the influential books in sports humanistic sociology field based on the data from CSSCI( 2007- 2011). Statistical analyses about cited times,authors and types distribution of these books were showed in this paper. The different academic books were analyzed in three types including books of other disciplines,sports science with other disciplines and sports science. Based on the analysis,this paper showed the influential authors and topics in the field of sport humanistic sociology( 2007- 2011).
31 EFFECT OF HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY ON BRONCHOALVEOLAR LAVAGE IMMUNOGLOBULIN G SUBCLASS LEVELS IN HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS.

Background and Objective HIV infection in the lung is characterized by lumphocytic alveolitis and a state of chronic alveolar macrophage and lung lymphocyte activation resulting in enhanced cytokine secretion and hypergammaglobulinemia. It has been shown that HAART is associated with a generalized decline in cytokine secretion, especially interferon-gamma (IFN-g), and reduced IgG and IgM production. We examined the effect of HAART on IgG subclasses, including the IFN-g-dependent subclass IgG2. Methods IgG subclass levels were measured in BAL of 20 HIV-infected patients before and at 24 weeks after initiation of HAART using a human IgG subclass ELISA kit. Cytokine concentrations were measured using a cytokine bead array assay. IgG and cytokine concentrations were corrected for BAL dilution by determining epithelial lining fluid (ELF) using the urea dilution technique. Results Data expressed as mean ± SEM μg IgG/mL ELF (* p value ≥ .05). HAART was associated with a significant decline in IgG2 and IgG3 levels. Unlike normal subjects, BAL IgG2 levels were higher than IgG1 levels, a difference persisting even after 24 weeks of HAART. A significant correlation was found between IFN gamma levels and IgG1 ( R = .47, p = .03), IgG2 ( R = .53, p = .02) and IgG3 ( R = .53, p = .02) before initiation of HAART. This did not persist at week 24. IL-6 levels and IgG1 levels were found to be positively correlated at the time of entry ( R = .46, p = .04). None of the other subclasses demonstrated any significant correlation with IL-6 levels. Conclusion HIV infection is associated with increased IgG2 in the lungs of HIV infected patients, possibly due to elevated IFN-g concentrations in the lung. While this is partially correcting after 6 months of HAART, IgG2 levels still remain elevated in the lung, probably due to the long half-life of IgG.
Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues

Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs), or more properly, tertiary lymphoid tissues, are accumulations of lymphoid tissues that arise in situations of chronic inflammation in chronic graft rejection, autoimmunity, chronic microbial infection, tumors, and atherosclerosis. They resemble secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs), such as lymph nodes, in their lymphoid and stromal cellular composition and arrangement, and vasculature including high endothelial venules and lymphatic vessels. They differ from conventional lymphoid organs in that they are in ectopic sites, that is, in nonlymphoid organs, and generally do not have a capsule. Antigen priming and maturation of the immune response can occur in TLOs. TLOs can be considered to be detrimental in autoimmunity where they can contribute to determinant spreading and exacerbation of clinical disease; they can be beneficial as they provide a local environment for defense against tumors; and they can provide a local site to respond to infectious organisms, preventing dispersion through the body.
Leadership Perspectives on Operationalizing the Learning Health Care System in an Integrated Delivery System.

Introduction: Healthcare leaders need operational strategies that support organizational learning for continued improvement and value generation. The learning health system (LHS) model may provide leaders with such strategies; however, little is known about leaders’ perspectives on the value and application of system-wide operationalization of the LHS model. The objective of this project was to solicit and analyze senior health system leaders’ perspectives on the LHS and learning activities in an integrated delivery system. Methods: A series of interviews were conducted with 41 system leaders from a broad range of clinical and administrative areas across an integrated delivery system. Leaders’ responses were categorized into themes. Findings: Ten major themes emerged from our conversations with leaders. While leaders generally expressed support for the concept of the LHS and enhanced system-wide learning, their concerns and suggestions for operationalization where strongly aligned with their functional area and strategic goals. Discussion: Our findings suggests that leaders tend to adopt a very pragmatic approach to learning. Leaders expressed a dichotomy between the operational imperative to execute operational objectives efficiently and the need for rigorous evaluation. Alignment of learning activities with system-wide strategic and operational priorities is important to gain leadership support and resources. Practical approaches to addressing opportunities and challenges identified in the themes are discussed. Conclusion: Continuous learning is an ongoing, multi-disciplinary function of a health care delivery system. Findings from this and other research may be used to inform and prioritize system-wide learning objectives and strategies which support reliable, high value care delivery.
Cyberbullying in higher education

With the more pervasive use of technology, the prevalence of cyberbullying has increased. Universities and colleges have implemented more ways to reach students over the Internet and by other electronic means; consequently, it is important to investigate the prevalence of cyberbullying in higher education. This literature review was created to raise awareness of this continuing trend of cyberbullying among college students. Cyberbullying is defined as intent to consistently harass another individual to cause harm via any electronic method, including social media, and includes defamation, public disclosure of private facts, and intentional emotional distress. An exhaustive search of current literature was conducted using a variety of databases including Academic Search Complete, Education Source, E-Journals, ERIC, PsycArticles, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and PsycINFO. Google, Google Scholar, and reference lists from key studies were also used to gather relevant studies for inclusion in this review. Articles were used to define cyberbullying, build a historical base of cyberbullying among adolescents, examine factors involved in cyberbullying, describe effects of cyberbullying, and examine this trend among college students. Strategies such as reporting, monitoring online interactions, and legal actions to address cyberbullying in all areas of education were included. Future research should investigate if educational programs lead to decreased cyberbullying, increased rates of reporting, and how cyberbullying may change social media etiquette. Cyberbullying is occurring among undergraduate students.Cyberbullying is traditional bullying moved online.Cyberbullying includes social media.Undergraduates are afraid to report cyberbullying.Education programs, reporting systems, and Internet etiquette should be studied.
de Sitter harmonies: Cosmological spacetimes as resonances

The aim of this work is to provide the details of a calculation summarized in the recent paper by Maltz and Susskind which conjectured a potentially rigorous framework where the status of de Sitter space is the same as that of a resonance in a scattering process. The conjecture is that transition amplitudes between certain states with asymptotically supersymmetric flat vacua contain resonant poles characteristic metastable intermediate states. A calculation employing constrained instantons is presented that illustrates this idea.
Complications of Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Head and Neck Disease

Hyperbaric oxygen has been advocated in the treatment of many head and neck diseases. Reports of such treatments have described eustachian tube dysfunction as the only complication. A review of patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen for head and neck diseases at The Mount Sinai Medical Center revealed serious complications, which included seizure, stroke, and myocardial infarction. In addition, follow-up study of these patients demonstrated that 11 patients treated for radiation-induced necrosis had an undiagnosed recurrence of cancer.
Quality of care in patients with colorectal cancer at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center - Is there a racial disparity?

A43 Introduction - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in African Americans (AA) in the United States. Estimated 5 - year relative survival is 55 % in AA as compared to 65% in whites. Lower survival in AA with CRC may reflect differences in tumor biology as well as disparities in access to and receipt of high-quality medical care, which could lead to late diagnosis and disparities in treatment. Our study was aimed at detecting potential disparities in care received by AA with CRC in a large university medical system. Method - 2454 patients diagnosed at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) with CRC from 1994 - 2005 were identified through tumor registry. Corresponding data were extracted on age, sex, disease stage at diagnosis, tumor grade, number of regional lymph nodes examined and number of positive lymph nodes, time from diagnosis to start of treatment and chemotherapy received by these patients. Results - Among the 1800 patients for whom complete data were available (181 AA, 1619 whites), the average age at diagnosis was 68 years in AA vs 69 years in whites. The ratio of male to female patients was 43:57 in AA vs 52:48 in whites. The distribution of disease stage at diagnosis in AA vs whites was: 22% vs 18% (stage I), 27% vs 34% (stage II), 32% vs 29% (stage III), and 19% vs 19% (stage IV). Median time from diagnosis to initiation of treatment was 8 days in AA vs 11 days in whites. Tumor grade was similar in both groups: well differentiated 2% vs 3%, moderately differentiated 83% vs 76%, poorly differentiated 14% vs 20%, and undifferentiated 1% vs. 1% in AA and whites, respectively. Median number of lymph nodes examined was 12 in AA vs 14 in whites. Overall, 36% of AA patients received chemotherapy as compared to 45% of whites (p = 0.03). Conclusions - AA patients diagnosed at UPMC with CRC did not have higher stage of disease, worse tumor grade or longer time to start treatment after diagnosis as compared to white patients. Fewer number of AA patients received chemotherapy as compared to white patients. The reason for lower rates of chemotherapy administration in AA patients may depend on co-morbidities. Further analysis to detect any survival differences in the two groups and the contributing factors, if any is ongoing.
SAFETY OF ALPHA BLOCKERS IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE

Background: Alpha adrenergic blocking agents (AB) were shown to increase the risk of heart failure (HF) in the ALLHAT study, yet these agents are commonly used to treat prostatic hypertrophy in men, including those with or at risk for HF. We evaluated whether use of AB in patients admitted for HF
De-extinction and the Flourishing of Species

T.J. Kasperbauer argues that the most pressing problem for de-extinction is that it implies significant suffering for sentient animals. Though it is true that de-extinction entails suffering for se...
The PL Schönflies theorem in R3

It was shown by J. W. Alexander [A1] that every polyhedral 2-sphere in R 3 is the boundary of a 3-cell. The PL Schonflies theorem asserts further that the 3-cell is combinatorial; that is, it is the image of a 3-simplex under a PLH. (The first proof is due to W. Graeub [G]; see also [M2].) The main purpose of this section is to prove a slightly stronger form of the latter result. (See Theorem 12.) To do this, we need to extend some of our earlier results on the PL topology of R 2; and first, as a matter of convenience, we shall need the following.
The RNAi Inheritance Machinery of Caenorhabditis elegans

Gene silencing mediated by dsRNA (RNAi) can persist for multiple generations in Caenorhabditis elegans (termed RNAi inheritance). Here we describe the results of a forward genetic screen in C. elegans that has identified six factors required for RNAi inheritance: GLH-1/VASA, PUP-1/CDE-1, MORC-1, SET-32, and two novel nematode-specific factors that we term here (heritable RNAi defective) HRDE-2 and HRDE-4. The new RNAi inheritance factors exhibit mortal germline (Mrt) phenotypes, which we show is likely caused by epigenetic deregulation in germ cells. We also show that HRDE-2 contributes to RNAi inheritance by facilitating the binding of small RNAs to the inheritance Argonaute (Ago) HRDE-1. Together, our results identify additional components of the RNAi inheritance machinery whose conservation provides insights into the molecular mechanism of RNAi inheritance, further our understanding of how the RNAi inheritance machinery promotes germline immortality, and show that HRDE-2 couples the inheritance Ago HRDE-1 with the small RNAs it needs to direct RNAi inheritance and germline immortality.
Surgical and Functional Outcomes Following Buried Penis Repair With Limited Panniculectomy and Split-thickness Skin Graft.

Objective To report surgical and functional outcomes of buried penis surgery. Methods Outcomes following buried penis surgery at the University of Washington were assessed from June 1, 2005 to June 1, 2016. Patient demographic and surgical data were abstracted from a retrospective chart review. All patients were attempted to be contacted by phone for long-term follow-up. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate for association with any complication. Results A total of 42 men underwent buried penis repair surgery (mean short-term follow-up 8.1 months). There was an overall 33% 90-day complication rate (21 events). In univariate analysis, body mass index (BMI; P = .02) and no history of gastric bypass ( P = .03) were significant predictors of any complication. In multivariate analysis, only BMI remained significant (odds ratio 1.1 for each increase in unit of BMI, 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.27). Twenty-seven patients were reached for long-term follow-up (mean 39 months). Patients reported improvements in every functional domain that was assessed. Of the patients, 85% reported they would undergo buried penis surgery again, 74% that surgery led to a positive change in their lives, and 85% that the surgery had remained a long-term success. Conclusion Surgical correction of buried penis with penile split-thickness skin graft and limited panniculectomy is well tolerated and results in functional, long-term improvements. BMI is associated with an increased likelihood of a complication following surgery.
Chemically Controlled Epigenome Editing through an Inducible dCas9 System

Although histone modifications are associated with gene activities, studies of their causal relationships have been difficult. For this purpose, we developed an inducible system integrating dCas9-based targeting and chemically induced proximity technologies to allow small molecule induced recruitment of P300 acetyltransferase and the acetylation of H3K27 at precise gene loci in cells. Employing the new technique, we elucidated the temporal order of histone acetylation and gene activation, as well as the stability of the installed histone modification.
Biometric studies with hidden Markov model and its extension on short fixed-text input

The hidden Markov model (HMM) and its extensions have been applied in numerous scientific and engineering areas. In speech recognition, HMMs still outperform many other models. HMMs have also demonstrated significant performance in signature and gesture recognition. Nonetheless, the performance of HMM in Keystroke Biometric (KB) systems is typically lower when compared to other biometric systems. Moreover, there seems to be limited research conducted in Keystroke Biometrics using HMMs. This study discusses the hidden Markov model and its various extensions used in biometric areas. It also evaluates the hidden Markov model and the recently proposed partially observable hidden Markov model (POHMM) on a benchmark KB dataset. The POHMM, an extension of HMM that conditions the hidden state on an independent Markov chain, achieves a 0.045 equal-error rate (ERR), a significant performance improvement over the HMM and other leading methods in user verification.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Fresno Isolate Recovered from a Bovine Lymph Node.

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Fresno is an infrequently isolated serovar whose ecology and genomic characteristics have not yet been described. To further understand the genomic characteristics of this serovar, we sequenced the complete genome of a single isolate recovered from a bovine lymph node at harvest.
Increased Performance of Single-Channel Analog Photonic Links Enabled by Optical Wavelength-Division Multiplexing

Laser-intensity noise often sets the limitation to the performance of an analog photonic link. In particular, optimization of the all-important noise figure requires reduction of the laser’s relative-intensity noise (RIN) in the spectral band of interest. In this paper, we build on earlier work and analyze an approach for RIN reduction using multiple wavelengths. We extend the analysis and calculate all the important link parameters with no assumptions on modulator bias, RIN spectra, or signal power strength. We then impose constraints that conform with various practical situations and we calculate the performance tradeoffs among the three link parameters: 1) direct current photocurrent; 2) number of wavelengths; and 3) ratio of RIN-to-non-RIN noise. An experiment was performed with five lasers, and the results are in excellent agreement with theory.
Global aphasia and the language of thought

Jerry Fodor's arguments for a language of thought (LOT) are largely theoretical. Is there any empirical evidence that supports the existence of LOT? There is. Research on Global Aphasia supports the existence of LOT. In this paper, I discuss this evidence and why it supports Fodor's theory that there is a language of thought.
Lagrangian Studies of Marine Production: A Multimethod Assessment of Productivity Relationships in the California Current Ecosystem Upwelling Region

Upwelling of nutrient rich waters along continental shelves generates highly productive marine ecosystems affectingplanktonic communities from coastal to offshore domains. Methods to constrain pela...
Georgia LEADS: Exploring a Statewide Leadership Engagement Effort.

In this qualitative study, we focused on a two-way model of engagement, utilizing observational and individual interview data to examine community members' perceptions of their participation in a statewide initiative to increase leadership capacity at the community level. We review barriers to engagement recognized in the literature. Our study builds upon evolving definitions and models of community engagement, and furthers our understanding of community members' own perceptions of the definition and process involved in successfultwo-way community engagement. Our findings suggest three emergent themes for community participants: (1) trust, (2) relationships, and (3) priceless value of the engagement. Involving the community members in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the initiative was a unique approach to scaling up a statewide leadership development engagement effort, and the inclusive nature of this process enabled us to examineperceptions of engagement efforts in a single initiative across communities throughout the state of Georgia.
Fred Lorey Passed Away.

To tackle the ever-increasing ambitions of the International Journal of Neonatal Screening (IJNS), in November 2019, we were looking for an Associate Editor to strengthen the Editorial board of IJNS [...]
Improving Social Norms and Actions to Prevent Sexual and Intimate Partner Violence: A Pilot Study of the Impact of Green Dot Community on Youth:

Sexual violence (SV) and intimate partner violence (IPV), which often co-occur with bullying, are serious public health issues underscoring the need for primary prevention. The purpose of this stud...
Meeting social needs and loneliness in a time of social distancing under COVID-19: a comparison among young, middle, and older adults

Loneliness has a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of people. The COVID-19 pandemic has demanded individuals to socially distance, which has implications for loneliness and social isol...
How much water was delivered from the asteroid belt to the Earth after its formation

The Earth contains between one and ten oceans of water, including water within the mantle, where one ocean is the mass of water on the Earth's surface today. With $n$-body simulations we consider how much water could have been delivered from the asteroid belt to the Earth after its formation. Asteroids are delivered from unstable regions near resonances with the giant planets. We compare the relative impact efficiencies from the $\nu_6$ resonance, the 2:1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter and the outer asteroid belt. The $\nu_6$ resonance provides the largest supply of asteroids to the Earth, with about $2\%$ of asteroids from that region colliding with the Earth. Asteroids located in mean motion resonances with Jupiter and in the outer asteroid belt have negligible Earth-collision probabilities. The maximum number of Earth collisions occurs if the asteroids in the primordial asteroid belt are first moved into the $\nu_6$ resonance location (through asteroid-asteroid interactions or otherwise) before their eccentricity is excited sufficiently for Earth collision. A maximum of about eight oceans of water may be delivered to the Earth. Thus, if the Earth contains ten or more oceans of water, the Earth likely formed with a significant fraction of this water.
Mckusick-kaufman syndrome: diagnosis and management.

A female newborn, a product of consanguineous marriage born by caesarian section delivery with a birth weight of 3.75 kg, was admitted to our hospital with abdominal distension. Antenatal ultrasound showed congenital heart disease and a pelvic mass. On examination, she had lower abdominal mass emanating from the pelvis. There was polydactly and syndactly of the right hand and polydactly of the right foot. There was also an anterior ectopic anus. Cardiovascular work up revealed common atrio-ventricular (A-V) canal with single atrium, moderate patent ductus arteriosus and severe A-V regurgitation. Abdominal ultrasound and CT-scan showed hydrometrocolpos with bilateral hydronephrosis and left perinephric fluid collection (Fig. 1). Surgery revealed hydrometrocolpos secondary to a low vaginal atresia. An abdomino-perineal vaginal pull through was performed. Postoperative period was uneventful.
Sulfite: Cytochrome c Oxidoreductase: Inhibition by polymers of cytochrome c

Abstract The sulfite:cytochrome c oxidoreductase (EC 1.8.7.1) of bovine liver has been partially purified by a simple procedure. The preparations obtained gave no spectral evidence of heme components and had very little ability to transfer electrons to oxygen while being very active with cytochrome c. The response of the enzyme to changes in the concentrations of sulfite or of cytochrome c was that to be expected for a ping-pong mechanism. Ks for sulfite under the conditions used was 2.2 x 10-5 m. Anions, both monovalent and divalent, were inhibitory; none were competitive with respect to sulfite. Sulfate was competitive with respect to cytochrome c. Ki for sulfate was 3.5 x 10-3 m. Ks for ferricytochrome c in the absence of inhibitory anions was calculated to be 2.1 x 10-8 m. Bubbling solutions of ferricytochrome c with nitrogen or otherwise exposing them to gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, or solid-liquid interfaces was found to generate polymers of cytochrome c. The higher polymers of cytochrome c, were found to be potent inhibitors of the sulfite:cytochrome c oxidoreductase, competitive with respect to cytochrome c. The inhibition observed varied as the 2.56th power of the concentration of the polymerized cytochrome c. Ferrocytochrome c was resistant to the formation of polymers when exposed to interfaces. Yeast ferricytochrome c was unique among the ferricytochromes c tested in also being resistant to polymerization when exposed to interfaces.
The impact of corporate social responsibility on employee performance and cost

Purpose – The purpose of our paper is to empirically examine the conjectures, which prior literature suggests, that employees work more productively in socially responsible companies and employees are willing to work for less when they work for these companies. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses ordinary least squares regression to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee performance and between CSR and employee cost. Further, 2SLS is used to address the endogeneity issue. Findings – The results indicate a positive relation between CSR and employee performance, suggesting that employees in socially responsible companies generate better operating performance than their peers in less socially responsible companies. Findings also reveal that socially responsible companies incur higher labor cost. Research limitations/implications – First, the CSR ratings constructed by KLD Inc. are an approximate measure of CSR performance. Better CSR measures may yield s...
Increased model for end-stage liver disease score at the time of liver transplant results in prolonged hospitalization and overall intensive care unit costs.

Organ allocation based on Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) resulted in decreased waiting list mortality in the United States. However, reports suggest an increase in resource utilization as a consequence of this. The aim of this study is to assess the correlation of MELD at transplant with post-liver transplant (LT) intensive care unit (ICU) costs. We assessed clinical and demographic variables of 402 adult patients who underwent LT at King's College Hospital, London, UK, between January 2000 and December 2003. ICU cost calculations were based on the therapeutic intervention scoring system (TISS). Graft quality was assessed using the donor risk index (DRI). Patients with a MELD score > 24 had significantly longer post-LT ICU stay (P 24 was associated with prolonged ICU stay (P = 0.004 and P = 0.005, respectively). On univariate analysis, etiology of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), repeat LT, Budd-Chiari syndrome, and refractory ascites were associated with prolonged ICU stay. Using multivariate analysis, MELD > 24, refractory ascites, ALD and Budd-Chiari syndrome were associated with prolonged ICU stay. There was no association between using grafts with higher DRI and longer ICU stay, need for RRT, increased cost, or hospital survival on univariate analyses (P = not significant). Use of MELD as a method of organ allocation results in significant increase in ICU cost after LT. Using TISS as surrogate marker for ICU costs reveals that the cost implications are related to the need for RRT and prolonged ICU stay.
Effect of Hemoglobin Transfusion Threshold on Cerebral Hemodynamics and Oxygenation

Abstract Cerebral dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury may adversely affect cerebral hemodynamics and oxygenation leading to worse outcomes if oxygen capacity is decreased due to anemia. In a randomized clinical trial of 200 patients comparing transfusion thresholds <7 g/dl versus 10 g/dl, where transfusion of leukoreduced packed red blood cells was used to maintain the assigned hemoglobin threshold, no long-term neurological difference was detected. The current study examines secondary outcome measures of intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and brain tissue oxygenation (PbtO2) in patients enrolled in this randomized clinical trial. We observed a lower hazard for death (hazard ratio [HR]=0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.02–0.99) during the first 3 days post-injury, and a higher hazard for death after three days (HR=2.55, 95% CI=1.00–6.53) in the 10 g/dl threshold group as compared to the 7 g/dL threshold group. No significant differences were observed for ICP and CP...
A Review Of: “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism”

This documentary, released first on DVD in mid-July 2004 and appearing in early August in theatres in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco and later throughout the country, purpor...