cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prioritization of Inpatient Hospital Services to Prisoners: A Method for Justifying Care and Costs

As a response to rising health care costs and substantial cuts in state funding for correctional health care in Texas, we developed and applied a process framework for systematically prioritizing the provision of inpatient hospital services to prisoners. Specifically, all inpatient services provided from September 2009 through August 2011 at the University of Texas Medical Branch/Texas Department of Criminal Justice Hospital were sorted according to levels of care consistent with those previously defined by the Oregon Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Nearly all inpatient services (94%) were deemed medically mandatory (Level 1) or medically necessary (Level 2). These services must be funded to ensure an adequate level of care, and capitated-funding mechanisms may not be sufficiently flexible to cover their costs. Correctional health care systems may adapt the framework used here to inform state policymakers regarding provision of inpatient services and funding requirements.
Is Unequal Error Protection useful

When transmitting source-encoded data, not all information bits are equally important, due to the different sensitivity of the source decoder to errors. Unequal Error Protection (UEP) consists of allocating coding redundancy depending on the importance of the information bits. We consider progressive transmission of source-encoded data under three different packet formats where either number of source bits per packet is fixed (fixed-k approach), or packet block length is fixed (fixed-n approach) or both parameters allowed to vary for each block (variable-(n, k) approach). Most existing results are based on some chosen family of channel codes and consider a single-user setting. Thanks to the recent finite length error probability results by Polyanskiy et al., in this work we investigate the UEP concept using the new finite-length random coding bounds. In the single-user case, we show that when codes meeting Polyanskiy achievability bounds are used, UEP does not obtain significant advantages over Equal-Error Protection (EEP) (advantages disappear for the variable-(n, k) case). Based on these results, a low complexity optimization algorithm is proposed for the multiuser (multicast) scenario.
Challenges to Care: The Newborn and Infant with Cardiac Problems in Thailand

Abstract Our world is shrinking due to computerized linkages and the mobility of society. Information is shared rapidly around the world. Issues surrounding newborn and infant nursing are global. In efforts to acknowledge the international community, each Newborn and Infant Nursing Review (NAINR) issue will feature a column that highlights care related issues from a featured country or region of the world. This first article focuses on Thailand.
Fungal polyketide engineering comes of age.

Natural products derived from fungi have a glorious pedigree in alleviating human suffering, with penicillins being the very first microbially derived compounds to be clinically used as antibiotics. Beyond the antibiotic activity of penicillins and contemporary cephalosporins, fungal natural products exhibit extensive utility in a myriad of clinical applications. Among these, fungal polyketides offer a vast array of bioactive molecules with prominent examples including the cholesterol-lowering lovastatin, immunosuppressant mycophenolic acid, and angiogenesis inhibitor cytochalasin E (1⇓–3). Although polyketide natural products possess a comparatively higher “hit rate” for drug development (0.3%) compared with synthetic high-throughput screening libraries (<0.001%) (4), their complicated chemical structures that contain multiple stereocenters and numerous oxygen-containing substituents complicate synthetic diversity-oriented modifications (5). This structural complexity has precipitated the need to expand the chemical space naturally explored in microbes through the genetic reprogramming of secondary metabolism to yield designer molecules. Engineering of natural products via coexpression of heterologous gene combinations has been realized for bacterial polyketide antibiotics (6, 7). In PNAS, Xu et al. (8) extend this paradigm for a class of fungal polyketide natural products called the …
Variability in respiratory rhythm generation: in vitro and in silico models

The variability inherent in rhythmic physiological patterns may arise from both stochastic and deterministic sources. Though variability is disruptive when in excess, it may also be functional in evolved systems. Here we focus on the neural control of respiration which is critical for survival in many animals. The sources of respiratory variability, as well as its possible function, are unknown. A fundamental component of respiratory pattern generation is the preBotzinger complex (preBotC) which is part of the ventral respiratory column located in the brainstem. Here we use in vitro and in silico models of the preBotC to study the variability of respiratory rate. The in vitro model exhibits a bounded range of variability in which the upper and lower limits are functions of the respiratory rate. The in silico model consists of two types of neurons: intrinsically bursting “pacemaker” cells and tonically spiking cells that relay chemosensory and mechanosensory feedback. When fitted to the experimental data, the in silico model shows the existence of both stochastic and deterministic sources for variability in the respiratory rate. The upper and lower limits of variability seen experimentally are reproduced in silico using a range of network connection strengths. Simulations demonstrate that stochastic spiking in sensory relay neurons may be utilized to stabilize changes in variability when the respiratory rate changes due to physiological demand.
Strategies for Setting Medical Nutrition Therapy Priorities for Patients With Stage 3 and 4 Chronic Kidney Disease

THE PROVISION OF medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for patients with early chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become more common since Medicare began reimbursing for this service in January 2002. This is good news for patients. It has been demonstrated that nutrition care for predialysis patients can improve survival during the first year of dialysis. Providing care for the patient with early CKD requires careful assessment and individualization of the nutrition intervention. Patients’ nutrition needs will vary depending on the etiology and stage of CKD, comorbidities, medications, and previous nutrition intake. The purpose of this article is to highlight the most common nutrition interventions for the CKD patient population. Secondly, this article aims to identify areas of confusion that frequently arise for this group of patients so that priorities for education can be properly determined. MNT for the CKD patient can address modifiable risk factors for CKD progression, which include hypertension, proteinuria, and hyperglycemia. Additionally, MNT can help to ameliorate metabolic alterations, such as secondary hyperparathyroidism and metabolic acidosis, and help to prevent protein-energy wasting.
Adsorption and helical coiling of amphipathic peptides on lipid vesicles leads to negligible protection from cathepsin B or cathepsin D.

The processing of antigenic peptides for presentation by MHC molecules to T cells, may depend upon the function of a second, consensus sequence in or near the T cell-presented epitope. One such processing-regulating sequence appears to be composed of amino acids Leu, Ile, Val, Phe, and Met recurring in a fashion to form a longitudinal, hydrophobic strip when the excised peptide is coiled as an α-helix. Such a hydrophobic strip-of-helix may: (a) scavenge peptides from lumens onto lipid membranes of digestion vesicles, (b) stabilize peptides there as protease-resistant helices, (c) specify recognition by the antigenic peptide-binding sites of chaperonin proteins, transmembranal transporters, or MHC molecules. By circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance, we demonstrated that peptides with recurrent hydrophobic residues potentially forming longitudinal strips adsorbed to, and partially coiled as helices on, di-O-hexadecyl, D-L-α-phosphatidylcholine (DHPC) vesicles. Cathepsin B or cathepsin D cle...
Compression wood formation in Pinus strobus L. following ice storm damage in southwestern Virginia, USA1

Abstract In 1994, heavy ice storms hit southwestern Virginia, causing extensive damage to trees. Larger trees tended to experience branch breakage while smaller trees were more commonly bent under the weight of the ice. Bent trees formed compression wood in the years following the ice storm. To evaluate the influence of tree size and location on the formation of compression wood, a commercial wood defect, 47 Pinus strobus L. trees were felled and cross-sections were collected at 0.5 m above the root collar. Disks were sanded and scanned, and the cross-sectional area of compression wood within each tree ring was quantified using image analysis software. In addition, wood anatomical features were quantified in the 3 years before and after the storm. Compression wood formation was significantly related to tree diameter and the 6–9 cm diameter class formed more compression wood area than any other size class (this class was 4–8 cm at the time of the storm). Trees > 18 cm at the time of the storm did not form ...
Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity

Obesity is a major epidemic in developed countries. It induces or exacerbates hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, dyslipidemia, and many other disease processes, which cumulatively contribute to premature mortality on a scale rivaling that of smoking. At present, bariatric surgery is the only therapeutic modality that can produce sustained weight loss and halt or resolve comorbidities. This success results from the ability to perform the operation reliably, usually laparoscopically, with low mortality. The most commonly performed operation is Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Other bypasses discussed in this review include biliopancreatic diversion with and without duodenal switch. Purely restrictive operations, especially adjustable gastric banding, have a lower risk but are somewhat less effective. We focus on the more controversial aspects of commonly accepted operations, including patient selection, the spectrum and frequency of complications, and the long-term outcome.
Electroless electrophoresis coatings to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium (Mg) alloys

Abstract: A thin E-coating can be rapidly deposited on the surface of a Mg alloy in a cathodic E-coating bath without applying any current or potential. The selectively self-deposited coating results from the high surface alkalinity of Mg. The ‘electroless’ E-coating pre-film can offer adequate corrosion protection for Mg alloys. The stability of the film can be further improved significantly after curing. The coating can be either a temporary or permanent layer. It may also be used to pre-treat a Mg alloy surface for a normal E-coating or powder coating. Such a simple dipping step can even seal porous phosphating or anodizing coatings on Mg alloys.
An unlumped model for linear series elastic actuators with ball screw drives

Series elastic actuators are frequently modeled using a conventional lumped mass model which has remained mostly unchanged since their introduction almost two decades ago. The lumped model has served well for early development but more descriptive models are now needed for new actuator designs and control approaches. In this paper we propose a new unlumped model specifically for linear series elastic actuators which uses a rack & pinion conceptualization to intuitively depict the mechanics of a linear ball screw drive. Results from hardware experiments are presented and compared to the predicted simulation results for both the conventional model and the new unlumped model. The results demonstrate that the new unlumped model is significantly more representative of the true actuator dynamics.
Remembering the Basics: African American Youth and HIV Knowledge - Brief Report.

Acknowledgements This research was supported by a grant from the Royalty Research Fund at the University of Washington. We thank all the youth, families, and community organizations for their participation. Objective The current work examined three HIV knowledge areas (i.e.,general knowledge, HIV-safe behaviors, HlV-risk behaviors) among African American youth living in two urban areas. Methods In a cross sectional sample of 142 African American youth ages11–17 years living in Chicago and Seattle, youth’s HIV knowledge wasassessed using a 16-item survey adapted from the Youth AIDS Prevention Project and the Aban Aya Project. Results Multiple linear regression analyses examined the association among youth HIV knowledge and key demographic variables (i.e., age, gender, parent education, household income, and city). Overall HIV knowledge was low among all youth. Youth were most informed about general knowledge, followed by knowledge of HlV-risk behaviors. Youth were considerably misinformed about HIV-safe behaviors. Generally, older youth and those living in Seattle were more informed about HIV than younger adolescents and youth living in Chicago. Household income and youth gender were unrelated to youth’s HIV knowledge. However, parental education was related to youth’s HIV-safe knowledge, with youth of more educated parents having less knowledge than youth with less educated parents. Conclusions Findings from this study underscore the importance of continued attention to HIV knowledge as an important component of HIVprevention among African American youth. Accurate information about HIV is critical for prevention efforts. Prevention efforts should ensure that new generations of youth continue to be provided with knowledge about HIV risk and transmission. Publication index PubMed
Scholarly Articles on the Study of the North American Jewish Community

The following list is based on a practice first undertaken as an appendix to Volume 7 of Contemporary Jewry (1986) under the aegis of the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry (ASSJ). Rena Cheskis-Gold and Arnold Dashefsky edited “Recent Research on Contemporary Jewry.” The current list of articles was constructed by searching Sociological Abstracts for the following terms: “holocaust,” “Israel*,” “Jew*,” “Jud*,” and “synagog*.”
Estimadores spline calibrados para tasas detalladas de fecundidad a partir de datos agrupados por edad

Se desarrolla y explica un nuevo metodo para la interpolacion de estructuras etarias detalladas de fecundidad a partir de datos agrupados por edad. El metodo permite la estimacion de las tasas especificas de fecundidad para cualquier edad detallada, desde los diferentes segmentos etarios estandar hasta cualquier agrupamiento no utilizado usualmente. El nuevo metodo, llamado estimador spline calibrado (CS), expande las tasas de fecundidad agrupadas por edad encontrando una curva suavizada mediante la minimizacion de los errores cuadrados penalizados. La penalizacion se basa tanto en el ajuste de los datos de los grupos etarios disponibles como en la semejanza de los patrones de las estructuras de edad 1fx observados en la Human Fertility Database (HFD) y la US Census International Database (IDB). El estimador CS se comparo con un buen metodo alternativo que requiere mas procesamiento: la interpolacion de Beers. Los resultados muestran que el CS replica las conocidas estructuras etarias de fecundidad 1fx, a partir de las 5fx mejoradas, donde las estructuras etarias de la fecundidad interpoladas tambien se presentan mas suavizadas. La conclusion a la que se arriba es que el CS constituye un metodo facil de calcular, flexible y preciso para la interpolacion de estructuras de fecundidad detalladas a partir de datos agrupados. Los usuarios pueden calcular estructuras especificas de fecundidad detalladas directamente por medio de los datos observados, solo utilizando la aritmetica elemental.
Dignity and indignation: bridging morality and political economy in contemporary Spain

In the current Spanish conjuncture, characterized by political and economic crisis and the rapid impoverishment of the working classes, we have seen the emergence of moral discourses around indignation and the demand of dignity. While these moral exhortations have rightly been scrutinized with skepticism from Marxist positions for their lack of attention to political economic structures, this paper discusses whether we can find in them elements for what Gavin Smith calls a “revindicative politics,” able to transcend the frame of reference of the society of capital. Exploring the notion of dignity both in the Indignados movement and in my own ethnographic field site of Southern Catalonia—a region where claims to dignity have saturated the sphere of the political for decades—I suggest that the demand for dignity should be understood as an expression of what Ernst Bloch called “nonsynchronous contradictions,” being not entirely reducible to the contemporary workings of capitalist accumulation. Dignity points toward unsettled memories and unfulfilled pasts as well as to a rejection of servile relations and the desire to make sense of oneself outside of the morality of capital. Understanding this demand for dignity forces Marxist anthropologists to look at capital from the “margins,” challenging its centrality. In so doing it also invites us to refine and invigorate our critique of political economy.
Analysis on epidemiological characteristics of mumps from 2008 to 2011 in Chenggong district

Objective To study the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of mumps in Chenggong District from 2008 to 2011,provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of mumps.Methods Descriptive epidemiological analysis was used to analyze the mumps epidemiological situation in Chenggong during this period.Results The number of cumulative cases about mumps was 871 in the past three years in Chenggong District.The annual average incidence was 88.82/100,000.The differences of incidence rate among years had a statistical significance(P 0.01).The incidence rate of male was higher than that of female(P 0.01).For each year,the incidence peak months were May,from November to January.Mumps mainly occurred among children aged 5 to 9 years,and there were 754 cases reported under 15 years which accounted for 86.57% of the total.Students,kindergartens and scattered children were most affected population(785 cases,90.17%).Conclusion Children and teenagers are high risk population of mumps.It is necessary to take comprehen sive and effective intervention measures during high occurrence seasons.
Presence of an intact cholesterol feedback mechanism in the liver in biliary stasis.

Acute obstruction of the common bile duct results in a severalfold increase in the rate of cholesterol synthesis by the liver. This study was undertaken to distinguish whether this increase is the result of loss of sensitivity of the liver cell to feedback inhibition or of interruption of the enterolymphatic circulation of cholesterol. Feeding rats with biliary obstruction a diet containing cholesterol and bile acid caused a 40 to 60% suppression of hepatic cholesterogenesis; intravenous infusion of 36 mg per 24 hr of cholesterol in intestinal lipoproteins resulted in a 10fold inhibition. This inhibition was specific for cholesterogenesis in the liver, was the consequence of suppression of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase in the biosynthetic sequence, and was associated with an increase in the cholesterol concentration of the liver. These studies clearly demonstrate that the feedback regulatory mechanism for the control of cholesterol synthesis is intact in the liver in the presence of cholestasis and, therefore, the enhanced synthetic rate seen after biliary obstruction must be the consequence of interruption of the enterolymphatic circulation of cholesterol.
Alcohol Regulates Genes that Are Associated with Response to Endocrine Therapy and Attenuates the Actions of Tamoxifen in Breast Cancer Cells

Hereditary, hormonal, and behavioral factors contribute to the development of breast cancer. Alcohol consumption is a modifiable behavior that is linked to increased breast cancer risks and is associated with the development of hormone-dependent breast cancers as well as disease progression and recurrence following endocrine treatment. In this study we examined the molecular mechanisms of action of alcohol by applying molecular, genetic, and genomic approaches in characterizing its effects on estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells. Treatments with alcohol promoted cell proliferation, increased growth factor signaling, and up-regulated the transcription of the ER target gene GREB1 but not the canonical target TFF1/pS2. Microarray analysis following alcohol treatment identified a large number of alcohol-responsive genes, including those which function in apoptotic and cell proliferation pathways. Furthermore, expression profiles of the responsive gene sets in tumors were strongly associated with clinical outcomes in patients who received endocrine therapy. Correspondingly, alcohol treatment attenuated the anti-proliferative effects of the endocrine therapeutic drug tamoxifen in ER-positive breast cancer cells. To determine the contribution and functions of responsive genes, their differential expression in tumors were assessed between outcome groups. The proto-oncogene BRAF was identified as a novel alcohol- and estrogen-induced gene that showed higher expression in patients with poor outcomes. Knock-down of BRAF, moreover, prevented the proliferation of breast cancer cells. These findings not only highlight the mechanistic basis of the effects of alcohol on breast cancer cells and increased risks for disease incidents and recurrence, but may facilitate the discovery and characterization of novel oncogenic pathways and markers in breast cancer research and therapeutics.
Alternative catalyst to mercury for Kjeldahl determination of nitrogen in water and wastewater samples

A non-polluting alternative catalyst was used in a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Kjeldahl digestion procedure for water and wastewater samples. The colorimetric semiautomated block digestion method (EPA Method 351.2) was essentially unchanged except that 1 mL of a saturated solution of titanium dioxide was added to the digestant mixture, instead of 2 g mercuric oxide. Titanium dioxide is a nontoxic compound, which makes an excellent replacement in total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) determination. Samples were digested and then placed on a flow injection autoanalyzer for ammonia determination. All other digestion and analysis procedures were the same as in the original method. Detection limit for TKN was 0.1 mg/L. Recovery of glutamic acid averaged 96.2%. Recoveries of standard reference water samples over a 9 month period averaged >95%.
Hoping, Imagining, and Projecting

“That’s only your imagination.” “That’s just wishful thinking.” There are ways of understanding hope which concede its prevalence but question its soundness. It would be, in the phrase Sartre used in another context, a “useless passion,” one quite real, to be sure, but without fulfillment or release. One could take the view that it is useless tout court, a lamentable but ineradicable feature of human existence. It is alienating; it turns us away from the real present to the never-to-arrive future.1 Or it could be lamentable and alienating, but necessary, an escape, a shield to blunt the hard teeth of today: “Human kind cannot bear very much reality” (T. S. Eliot). The judgment, albeit from different rationales, comes to the same: hoping on its cognitional side is out of touch with reality.
Late-onset hypertrophic pyloric stenosis with gastric outlet obstruction: case report and review of the literature

We report late-onset hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in a 17-year-old female. She presented with abdominal pain and an episode of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and subsequently developed gastric outlet obstruction. Work-up revealed circumferential pyloric thickening, delayed gastric emptying, and a stenotic, elongated pyloric channel. Biopsies showed benign gastropathy, negative for Helicobacter pylori, without eosinophilic infiltrates. Botulinum toxin injection provided limited relief. Diagnostic laparoscopy confirmed the hypertrophic pylorus and we performed laparoscopic pyloromyotomy. The patient tolerated the procedure well and had complete symptom resolution at 1-year follow-up. Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction in adolescents and may be managed successfully with laparoscopic pyloromyotomy.
Role of Second Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with Amyloidosis Who Are Refractory or Relapsing.

Introduction: Stem cell transplant is an increasingly widely applied technique for managing amyloidosis. As in multiple myeloma, the treatment would not be expected to be curative and patients would be expected to relapse in most instances. In addition, approximately one-third of patients fail to respond to initial therapy. The role of second transplantation in treatment failures or patients who relapse is reviewed. Patients: Of 242 patients undergoing high dose conditioning and stem cell transplantation for amyloidosis (AL) at the Mayo Clinic, 6 subsequently underwent a second transplant. Results: Patient 1, who had single organ renal amyloid nephrotic syndrome responded and relapsed at 73 months, received a second stem cell transplant achieving a hematologic complete response with normalization of a markedly elevated pre transplant free light chain (59 to 1.9 mg/dL) and is alive at 12 months. Patient 2 relapsed 42 months after transplant for single organ renal amyloidosis; the second stem cell transplant, has normalized his free light chain ratio reduced his urinary protein loss from 5450 to 1482 mg/day and he is alive 21 months following his second transplant (63 months overall). Patient 3 relapsed 34 months after a response of renal and cardiac amyloidosis. After transplant two, he failed to achieve a 50% reduction in his free light chain, began hemodialysis 7 months post transplant and died one year post transplant. Patient 4 with single organ cardiac involvement relapsed 30 months following his first transplant and died on day +5 of his second transplant of an acute pulmonary embolus. Patient 5 was a response failure after his first transplant, had a second transplant 35 months later, having failed Dexamethasone followed by Melphalan/Dexamethasone therapy, and died 3 months later of progressive disease. Patient 6 had single organ vascular involvement manifest by calf and thigh claudication and failed to respond with his first transplant with a persistently elevated free light chain. The second transplant was performed six months after the first without further free light chain reduction and persistent claudication at 11 months. Conclusion: Patients who failed to achieve a hematologic response after a first transplant appear not to benefit from a second course of high dose therapy. Among 4 patients who were previously responsive and relapsed, one achieved a hematologic complete response, one achieved a hematologic partial response, and two died. The two patients achieving a second hematologic response had the longest response duration (73 and 42 months) following their first transplant, and the second response presumably reflects favorable (indolent; non proliferative) biology of the underlying plasma cell dyscrasia. High dose therapy and stem cell transplant may be an effective salvage regimen for patients who responded to a first transplant and whose response lasted greater than 36 months.
Elimination of 'ghost'-effect-related systematic errors in metrology of x-ray optics with a long trace profiler

A data acquisition technique and relevant program for suppression of one of the systematic effects, namely the 'ghost' effect, of a second generation long trace profiler (LTP) is described. The 'ghost' effect arises when there is an unavoidable cross-contamination of the LTP sample and reference signals into one another, leading to a systematic perturbation in the recorded interference patterns and, therefore, a systematic variation of the measured slope trace. Perturbations of about 1-2 μrad have been observed with a cylindrically shaped X-ray mirror. Even stronger 'ghost' effects show up in an LTP measurement with a mirror having a toroidal surface figure. The developed technique employs separate measurement of the 'ghost'-effect-related interference patterns in the sample and the reference arms and then subtraction of the 'ghost' patterns from the sample and the reference interference patterns. The procedure preserves the advantage of simultaneously measuring the sample and reference signals. The effectiveness of the technique is illustrated with LTP metrology of a variety of X-ray mirrors.
Polarization state conversion through exceptional point encirclement

We present an integrated optical configuration for converting any arbitrary polarization into a desired output state. This topologically robust chiral process relies on encircling the systems exceptional point through parameter variations along the propagation direction.
Referral paths in the U.S. physician network

In this paper, we analyze the millions of referral paths of patients’ interactions with the healthcare system for each year in the 2006-2011 time period and relate them to U.S. cardiovascular treatment records. For a patient, a “referral path” records the chronological sequence of physicians encountered by a patient (subject to certain constraints on the times between encounters). It provides a basic unit of analysis in a broader referral network that encodes the flow of patients and information between physicians in a healthcare system. We consider referral networks defined over a range of interactions as well as the characteristics of referral paths, producing a characterization of the various networks as well as the physicians they comprise. We further relate these metrics and findings to outcomes in the specific area of cardiovascular care. In particular, we match a referral path to occurrences of Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) and use the summary measures of the referral path to predict the treatment a patient receives and medical outcomes following treatment. Some referral path features are more significant with respect to their ability to boost a tree-based predictive model, and have stronger correlations with numerical treatment outcome variables. The patterns of referral paths and the derived informative features illustrate the potential for using network science to optimize patient referrals in healthcare systems for improved treatment outcomes and more efficient utilization of medical resources.
Who Would Put Their Child Alone In An Autonomous Vehicle? Preliminary Look At Gender Differences:

While previous studies have examined public opinions of autonomous vehicles, there is a distinct gap in the literature concerning opinions of the use of AVs to transport children. This study examin...
Combining Spectral and Spatial Features for Deep Learning Based Blind Speaker Separation

This study tightly integrates complementary spectral and spatial features for deep learning based multi-channel speaker separation in reverberant environments. The key idea is to localize individual speakers so that an enhancement network can be trained on spatial as well as spectral features to extract the speaker from an estimated direction and with specific spectral structures. The spatial and spectral features are designed in a way such that the trained models are blind to the number of microphones and microphone geometry. To determine the direction of the speaker of interest, we identify time-frequency T-F units dominated by that speaker and only use them for direction estimation. The T-F unit level speaker dominance is determined by a two-channel chimera++ network, which combines deep clustering and permutation invariant training at the objective function level, and integrates spectral and interchannel phase patterns at the input feature level. In addition, T-F masking based beamforming is tightly integrated in the system by leveraging the magnitudes and phases produced by beamforming. Strong separation performance has been observed on reverberant talker-independent speaker separation, which separates reverberant speaker mixtures based on a random number of microphones arranged in arbitrary linear-array geometry.
Exploring magnetohydrodynamic voltage distributions in the human body: Preliminary results.

Background The aim of this study was to noninvasively measure regional contributions of vasculature in the human body using magnetohydrodynamic voltages (VMHD) obtained from electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings performed inside MRI’s static magnetic field (B0). Integrating the regional VMHD over the Swave-Twave segment of the cardiac cycle (Vsegment) provides a non-invasive method for measuring regional blood volumes, which can be rapidly obtained during MRI without incurring additional cost. Methods VMHD was extracted from 12-lead ECG traces acquired during gradual introduction into a 3T MRI. Regional contributions were computed utilizing weights based on B0’s strength at specified distances from isocenter. Vsegment mapping was performed in six subjects and validated against MR angiograms (MRA). Results Fluctuations in Vsegment, which presented as positive trace deflections, were found to be associated with aortic-arch flow in the thoracic cavity, the main branches of the abdominal aorta, and the bifurcation of the common iliac artery. The largest fluctuation corresponded to the location where the aortic arch was approximately orthogonal to B0. The smallest fluctuations corresponded to areas of vasculature that were parallel to B0. Significant correlations (specifically, Spearman’s ranked correlation coefficients of 0.96 and 0.97 for abdominal and thoracic cavities, respectively) were found between the MRA and Vsegment maps (p < 0.001). Conclusions A novel non-invasive method to extract regional blood volumes from ECGs was developed and shown to be a rapid means to quantify peripheral and abdominal blood volumes.
Gene Therapy for X-Linked Myotubular Myopathy

X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) emerges from mutations in the MTM1 gene and affects around 1 in 50,000 live-born male infants. This congenital myopathy has currently no treatment and leads to a severe impairment of motor skills and ventilation and premature death. In this chapter, we synthetize the results of gene therapy studies using recombinant adeno-associated vectors in preclinical models of X-linked myotubular myopathy. Over the past few years, the field has rapidly moved from myotubularin-deficient mice to dogs and has now begun the first clinical gene therapy trial for XLMTM. In both mice and dogs, a single intravenous injection of adeno-associated vector leads to a complete rescue of key pathological phenotypes, including motor and respiratory functions, and life expectancy. Despite the treatment being well tolerated in both animal models, we also interrogated some of the issues commonly encountered in gene therapy studies, notably immune responses against the vector capsid or the transgene product, genotoxicity, and off-target effects.
MRLR: unraveling high-resolution meiotic recombination by linked reads.

Motivation Meiotic recombination facilitates the transmission of exchanged genetic material between homologous chromosomes and plays a crucial role in increasing the genetic variations in eukaryotic organisms. In humans, thousands of crossover events have been identified by genotyping related family members. However, most of these crossover regions span tens to hundreds of kb, which is not sufficient resolution to accurately identify the crossover breakpoints in a typical trio family. Results We have developed MRLR, a software using 10X linked reads to identify crossover events at a high resolution. By reconstructing the gamete genome, MRLR only requires a trio family dataset and can efficiently discover the crossover events. Using MRLR, we revealed a fine-scale pattern of crossover regions in six human families. From the two closest heterozygous alleles around the crossovers, we determined that MRLR achieved a median resolution 4.5 kb. This method can delineate a genome-wide landscape of crossover events at a precise scale, which is important for both functional and genomic features analysis of meiotic recombination. Availability and implementation MRLR is freely available at https://github.com/ChongLab/MRLR, implemented in Perl. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Synthesis of 5′,11-dihydroxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol

Abstract The synthesis of a polar cannabinoid, 5′,11-dihydroxy-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (2), has been carried out. A key step in the synthesis is the reaction of an aryllithium derived from 1-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-5-(3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)pentane with apoverbenone. Subsequent conversions provided diol 2, which has significantly less affinity for the cannabinoid receptor than Δ8-THC.
Burnout Among Staff in a Home Hospital Pilot

Background: Burnout affects large portions of the healthcare workforce and is associated with increased medical errors, decreased patient experience and adherence, loss of professionalism, and decreased productivity. Little data exists on how novel clinical care settings might impact burnout. We studied the experience and burnout of staff involved in a home hospital pilot, where acutely ill patients were cared for at home as a substitute for traditional hospitalization. Methods: We analyzed evaluations completed by home hospital staff (physicians, registered nurses, and research assistants) at the conclusion of a 2-month pilot program. Our primary outcome was burnout evaluated by the Mini Z Burnout Survey. Secondary outcomes included overall job satisfaction, work environment, workload, and team evaluation measured on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: Eight of nine (89%) staff completed evaluations. Seven of eight (88%) staff had no symptoms of burnout; one (13%) was under stress but did not feel burned out. Median overall satisfaction with home hospital was 4.5/5.0 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.0). Most staff (6/8; 75%) “strongly agreed” that their professional values were well-aligned with the program. Three of six (50%) “entirely” or “very much” preferred home hospital to their standard clinical setting. Six of eight (75%) staff felt that their opinions were “entirely” heard; four of eight (50%) felt the team “entirely” valued each of its participants. Conclusions: Novel clinical care settings like home hospital may lead to low staff burnout, high job satisfaction, and a healthy work environment. Further study is warranted. J Clin Med Res. 2019;11(7):484-488 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3842
On the Evoution of the Light Elements I. D, He-3, and He-4

The light elements D, \he3, \he4, and \li7 are produced in big bang nucleosynthesis and undergo changes in their abundances due to galactic processing. Since one may observe most of these elements only in contemporary environments, knowledge of the intervening evolution is necessary for determining the observational constraints on primordial nucleosynthesis. Chemical and stellar evolution model dependences in light element evolution are systematically investigated via a comparison of 1460 possible chemical evolution scenarios and of stellar nucleosynthesis yields, all of which have been selected to fit solar neighborhood C, N, O, and Fe abundances as well as the observed local gas density and gas mass fraction. The light element evolution and solar system yields in these models are found to span a wide range, explicitly demonstrating the model dependence. The range of model dependence for D, \he3, and \he4 solar abundances is calculated, and its sensitivity to the heavy element constraints is noted. The chemical evolution contribution to the uncertainty in the observed primordial light element abundances is estimated, and the effects of this uncertainty on big bang nucleosynthesis results are discussed. The predictions for the light elements are found to be correlated; the extent and physical origin of these correlations is discussed. D and \he3 evolution is found to have significant model dependence, however, the dominant factor determining their solar and interstellar abundances is their primordial abundance. In addition, \he3 is found to be very sensitive to the details of processing in low mass stars. \he4 yields are shown to be very model dependent; in particular, both the introduction of mass loss and the possibly very high \he4 stellar yields in the
A Plausible Molecular Model for the 14-Filament Fibers of Sickle Cell Hemoglobin

ABSTRACT Image reconstruction of electron micrographs of negatively strained fibers of sickle cell hemoglobin has revealed a 14-filament structure composed of 10 outer filaments surrounding a 4-filament core. Degenerate forms of the fibers have also been characterized which lack specific pairs of filaments, implying an organization of the filaments in 7 pairs: a central pair of filaments surrounded by six peripheral pairs. The published evidence for the 14-filament structure and the specific pairing scheme2 is reviewed and related to data from other sources, particularly X-ray diffraction observations and findings on mutations at various sites on the surface of the hemoglobin molecule that influence fiber formation. On the basis of the available information and deductions from the disposition of the 7 pairs of filaments in the fibers, a molecular model of the fibers is proposed. This model places the hemoglobin S molecules, which are staggered by about one-half a molecular diameter in the 7 pairs of filaments of the fibers, in an arrangement similar to the orientation described for crystals of hemoglobin S in which molecules also occur in pairs of half-staggered strands.8 The arrangement of filament pairs in the molecular model of the fibers includes assignment of the polarity of the central pair of filaments and two specific peripheral pairs of filaments in an antiparallel orientation with respect to the remaining four pairs of filaments. Predictions of this model concerning the portions of the hemoglobin surface at various intermolecular contacts are described, involving positions α47, α75, α78 and β95 at particular interfaces between filament pairs.
Crafting culturally efficacious teacher preparation and pedagogies, by B. Bustos Flores, L. Claeys and C. D. Gist: Lanham, MD, The Rowman and Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2018, 159 pp., $82.61 (hardback), ISBN-10: 1498545386

In Crafting Culturally Efficacious Teacher Preparation and Pedagogies, Bustos Flores, Claeys, and Gist provide an in-depth look at the possibilities offered by teacher education programs that focus...
The optimal timing of teaching and learning across the life course

The evolutionary biologist W. D. Hamilton (Hamilton 1966 J. Theor. Biol. 12, 12–45. (doi:10.1016/0022-5193(66)90184-6)) famously showed that the force of natural selection declines with age, and re...
TIME-FREQUENCY SIGNATURES THROUGH OPTICAL DIFFRACTION SCANNING

Optical diffraction scanning for frequency content and changes in variable-density seismogram
Enhancing learning with 3D print technology: A case study of problem based learning

3D printing and interdisciplinary collaboration were used to enhance an existing problem-based, team learning project in an undergraduate management course. In addition to the more traditional step...
Being a Blue Blood: A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Police Officers’ Children:

There has been speculation by researchers regarding the potential fears, concerns, and difficulties experienced by children of police officers, such as fears about their parent being injured or kil...
The effects of a video designed to empower parents to find the time to complete their child's speech and language homework

THE EFFECTS OF A VIDEO DESIGNED TO EMPOWER PARENTS TO FIND THE TIME TO COMPLETE THEIR CHILD'S SPEECH AND LANGUAGE HOMEWORK Lana Ridge April 13, 2011 The study was completed to determine if parents' feelings of empowerment is improved after viewing a video. The video was designed to assist parents in determining appropriate time(s) to complete speech and language therapy homework. Parents from the JCPS, who had children in speech therapy, were recruited through a recruitment packet distributed by the school SLP. Parents were to complete 3 questionnaires, each two weeks apart, on www.surveygizmo.com regarding homework. Parents were asked to view a video at the end of the first and second questionnaire. Twenty-four percent, of the SLPs initially agreed to participate. It is known that 4 schools failed to distribute the recruitment letters. No initial questionnaires were completed. One person completed and two people partially completed the second questionnaire. No parent viewed the video. No data was obtained to answer the research question. Implications of this study's failure to obtain data are in the discussion section.
Walking on Gender Tightrope With Multiple Marginalities: Asian International Female Students in STEM Graduate Programs

This phenomenological research explored how Asian female international students (AFISs) understand the role of gender in their program experiences and how they cope with the challenges derived from their multiple marginalities—gender, foreign nationality, and race/ethnicity. Based on in-depth interviews with 21 Asian female international graduate students enrolled in various science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, we analyzed the ideological undercurrents embedded in their genderblind perspectives and examined their coping strategies in the context of STEM disciplines. Our thematic findings illustrate the participants’ multiple marginalities as manifested in the concept of “gender advantage,” and the precarious power dynamics and ironic coping strategies that they adopt in undergraduate teaching contexts. This study suggests that STEM educators in higher education understand the multifaceted struggles of AFISs who inevitably embody multiple marginalities in their graduate programs and provide culturally relevant support and advocacy-based professional mentoring.
Disparities Between Provider Assessment and Documentation of Care Needs in the Care of Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Sarcoma.

PURPOSE:Given the occurrence of cancer during a complex developmental time, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients have unique psychosocial needs that necessitate supportive care, which is optim...
The $900 Million Mistake: In re Citibank August 11, 2020 Wire Transfers (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 16, 2021)

The Citibank case dealt with a $900 million payment sent in error to the lenders of Revlon, Inc., in the midst of a fraught dispute over the loan restructuring. Surprising most market participants, the court ruled that the lenders who refused to return the funds to the administrative agent were entitled to keep the money. The case (currently on appeal) attracted commentary primarily due to the sheer size of the payment error, and the corresponding risks posed by “back-office” functions at financial institutions. But Citibank also highlights the widening gap in leveraged finance between the wishes and expectations of market participants and the actual outcomes they achieve under either (1) common-law default rules or (2) heavily negotiated contracts. In particular, the case raises questions such as (1) whether New York law remains an appropriate default choice for financing transactions; (2) whether the common-law of contracts does or should continue to have relevance for financing transactions among sophisticated parties; and (3) whether parties truly can contract for their desired outcomes when opportunistic behavior is prevalent in the market.