cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Help Wanted: Music Education Positions in Higher Education, 2007-2008

The purpose of this study was to document and describe the characteristics of college and university music education positions that were available and advertised during the 2007-2008 school year. Information for all jobs listed in the Chronicle of Higher Education and/or the College Music Society’s Music Vacancy List (N = 112) was compiled with respect to a number of variables, including where the notice was placed, job title, rank and tenure status, geographic location, applicant requirements, and job responsibilities. Data were compared with results of studies from the 1980s and 1990s. Results are informative for individuals seeking faculty positions, for college and university faculty preparing graduate students who will be applying for faculty positions, and for administrators developing criteria and responsibilities for open positions and writing the position vacancy announcements.
Association Between KRAS Mutation, Detected in Pancreatic Cyst Fluid, and Long-term Outcomes of Patients

Background & Aims Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine-needle aspiration is routinely used to evaluate pancreatic cysts. We investigated the association between results from DNA analysis of cyst fluid and patient outcomes. Methods In a retrospective analysis, we collected data from 113 patients with pancreatic cysts who underwent EUS with fine-needle aspiration at a tertiary care center from June 2004 to June 2007. Detailed follow-up data were obtained through October 2010 (mean, 47 months). Pancreatic cysts were categorized as nonbenign or benign on the basis of pathology analysis of surgical samples and patients' outcomes. We compared the patient characteristics, presenting symptoms, EUS imaging characteristics, and results from analysis of cyst fluid, including cytology results, levels of carcinoembryonic antigen, and DNA sequencing results. Results Fifty-one patients underwent pancreatic surgery (10 had malignant, 18 had mucinous, and 16 had benign cysts), 63 patients were followed long-term, and 13 patients died of pancreatic cancer. On the basis of multivariate regression analysis, the presence of cyst solid component, patient symptoms, cyst size >3 cm, and detection of KRAS mutations at codons 12 and 13 in cyst fluid were independently associated with a nonbenign course. Conclusions KRAS mutations, detected in pancreatic cyst fluid, are associated with mucinous cysts and progression and development of malignancy and should be considered in assessing pancreatic cysts. The presence of a cyst solid component, patient symptoms, and cyst size greater than 3 cm were additional high-risk factors for a malignant course of disease.
Tree block coordinate descent for map in graphical models

A number of linear programming relaxations have been proposed for finding most likely settings of the variables (MAP) in large probabilistic models. The relaxations are often succinctly expressed in the dual and reduce to dierent types of reparameterizations of the original model. The dual objectives are typically solved by performing local block coordinate descent steps. In this work, we show how to perform block coordinate descent on spanning trees of the graphical model. We also show how all of the earlier dual algorithms are related to each other, giving transformations from one type of reparameterization to another while maintaining monotonicity relative to a common objective function. Finally, we quantify when the MAP solution can and cannot be decoded directly from the dual LP relaxation.
Nondestructive spatial heterodyne imaging of cold atoms.

We demonstrate a new method for nondestructive imaging of laser-cooled atoms. This spatial heterodyne technique forms a phase image by interfering a strong reference laser beam with a weak probe beam that passes through the cold atom cloud. The figure of merit equals or exceeds that of phase-contrast imaging, and the technique can be used over a wider range of spatial scales. We show images of a dark-spot magneto-optic trap taken with imaging fluences as low as 61 pJ/cm(2) at a detuning of 11? , resulting in 0.0004 photons scattered per atom.
An Examination of the Relationship of the 16PF Fifth Edition to a Multidimensional Model of Self-Esteem:

The regression equation needed to predict the self-esteem score from the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) Fifth Edition is not available for hand scoring. This score is derived from ...
Validating self-reported food expenditures against food store and eating-out receipts

To compare objective food store and eating-out receipts with self-reported household food expenditures. The Seattle Obesity Study II was based on a representative sample of King County adults, Washington, USA. Self-reported household food expenditures were modeled on the Flexible Consumer Behavior Survey (FCBS) Module from 2007 to 2009 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Objective food expenditure data were collected using receipts. Self-reported food expenditures for 447 participants were compared with receipts using paired t-tests, Bland–Altman plots and κ-statistics. Bias by sociodemographics was also examined. Self-reported expenditures closely matched with objective receipt data. Paired t-tests showed no significant differences between receipts and self-reported data on total food expenditures, expenditures at food stores or eating out. However, the highest-income strata showed weaker agreement. Bland–Altman plots confirmed no significant bias across both methods–mean difference: 6.4; agreement limits: −123.5 to 143.4 for total food expenditures, mean difference 5.7 for food stores and mean difference 1.7 for eating out. The κ-statistics showed good agreement for each (κ 0.51, 0.41 and 0.49 respectively. Households with higher education and income had significantly more number of receipts and higher food expenditures. Self-reported food expenditures using NHANES questions, both for food stores and eating out, serve as a decent proxy for objective household food expenditures from receipts. This method should be used with caution among high-income populations, or with high food expenditures. This is the first validation of the FCBS food expenditures question using food store and eating-out receipts.
They Started to Make Variants

AbstractThis article illustrates the ways communities maintain and adjust the boundaries of local cuisine as food systems change. Focusing on contemporary Cuban household cooking practices, I reveal the importance of cookbooks and television in helping household cooks adjust to food system changes. Through her cookbooks and television show, Nitza Villapol, a famous Cuban chef, played a significant role in demonstrating how to cook with a drastically restricted set of ingredients during and after the economic crisis of the 1990s. Her work aided Cubans in making adaptations without completely changing the local cuisine. This article outlines the scope of Villapol's work, the relationship between her work and the Cuban state, and how Cubans remember her role in the 1990s and use her work today. I argue that Nitza Villapol's work was crucial in helping Cuban household cooks learn to use available ingredients to create dishes that call for now scarce ingredients.
Transcutaneous Po2 monitoring in the home management of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Despite recent advances in the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome and other pulmonary disorders, many infants in the United States develop a chronic lung disorder usually designated bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Management of this disorder frequently requires prolonged hospitalization. However, home management has recently been proposed.1 Transcutaneous Po2 (tcPo2) has been shown to correlate closely with Pao2, in well newborns2 and in sick newborns3-4 in all but a few unusual clinical situations. Reports to date have been concerned with tcPo2 monitoring in acutely ill infants.
Big Business in the School Cafeteria

Sociologist Ivy Ken questions the activities of two non-profit organizations that broker agreements with food companies to provide healthier products for schools.
Detection of Merkel Cell Polyomavirus in Human Tumors and Sarcoidosis From Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Tissue Samples

Purpose: The purpose of our project is to determine the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) in different tumor types and sarcoidosis. Introduction: MCPyV was recently shown to be present in 80%-100% of Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC) and is considered an oncogenic driver of this tumor. Our goal is to survey a variety of tumor types with a …
Metadata by Marcia Lei Zeng and Jian Qin: (2016). 2nd Ed. Chicago, IL: Neal-Schuman, 555 pages, $85.00, softcover, ISBN 978-1-5557-0965-5

In this second edition, the authors have expanded on this topic to match the ever-growing and changing information on metadata. The experienced reader may wish to start with Part V. Part V expands ...
Exploiting the MeDbz Linker To Generate Protected or Unprotected C-Terminally Modified Peptides.

C-terminally modified peptides are important targets for pharmaceutical and biochemical applications. Known methods for C-terminal diversification are limited mainly in terms of the scope of accessible modifications or by epimerization of the C-terminal amino acid. In this work, we present a broadly applicable approach that enables access to a variety of C-terminally functionalized peptides in either protected or unprotected form. This chemistry proceeds without epimerization of C-terminal Ala and tolerates nucleophiles of varying nucleophilicity. Finally, unprotected peptides bearing nucleophilic side chain groups can be selectively functionalized by strong nucleophiles, while macrocyclization is observed for weaker nucleophiles. The potential utility of this method is demonstrated through the divergent synthesis of the conotoxin conopressin G and GLP-1(7-36) and analogs.
In)Visibility in Disability and Assistive Technology

In this article, we present a meta-analysis of research examining visibility of disability. In interrogating the issue of visibility and invisibility in the design of assistive technologies, we open a discussion about how perceptions surrounding disability can be probed through an examination of visibility and how these tensions do, and perhaps should, influence assistive technology design and research.
Understanding the role of particle packing characteristics in rheo-physical properties of cementitious suspensions: A literature review

Abstract Interest for enhancing particle packing of the solid skeleton in concrete stems efforts to reduce the content of cementitious materials and water/admixture demand, thus decreasing cost and environmental impact as well as improving material performance. Solid particles in cementitious suspensions can be classified as non-colloidal particles, such as aggregates, where only mechanical interactions exist; and colloidal particles, such as cementitious materials, where particle surface forces predominate over gravitational-shear forces, thus particles tend to agglomerate. This paper intends to review advances in knowledge on the effect of packing characteristics of colloidal and non-colloidal particles on rheo-physical properties of cementitious suspensions. Focus is placed on solid particle sizes ranging from 10−2 μm (representing cementitious materials) to 104 μm (representing coarse aggregate). The effect of the volume fraction and particle packing of solids (both colloidal and non-colloidal particles) on rheology and stability characteristics of cementitious suspensions is discussed. The rheological properties of cementitious suspension are primarily dominated by the relative solid packing fraction (ϕ/ϕm). There exists a critical transition volume fraction (ϕc) of granular skeleton so-called percolation volume fraction beyond which direct frictional contacts among particles begin to dominate the rheological properties. Therefore, in order to design fluid concretes, the aggregate volume fraction should be kept below the critical transition value as well as the rheological properties of suspending fluid medium should be properly adjusted to secure adequate stability of aggregates. The optimization of particle packing of granular skeleton can improve the particle lattice effect, and consequently enhance the stability characteristics of concrete.
Newcastle Disease Virus

This chapter reviews the Newcastle disease virus, which belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family. Strains of the virus are divided into velogenic or highly virulent, mesogenic or moderately virulent, and lentogenic or relatively avirulent. It causes varied signs ranging from inapparent to mild respiratory distress to acute fatal episodes involving visceral and/or neurological signs. It is possible that conjunctivitis is seen in man. In Asia, the Newcastle disease is called Ranikhet disease. Chickens, turkeys, peahens, guinea hens, pheasants, quail, pigeons, ducks, geese, and many species of wild birds are the hosts to this disease. Hemolysis-in-gel, fluorescent antibody, haemagglutination assay, complement fixation, and virus neutralization are some of the techniques that are used for the diagnosis of the disease. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI), agar gel immunodiffusion, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and radioimmunoassay are also available techniques to diagnose the disease. HI is the most widely used diagnostic test both to identify Newcastle disease virus and to follow antibodies. The chapter discusses the key developments and historical movement of this virus.
Prognostic significance of HPV status in the re-irradiation of recurrent and second primary cancers of the head and neck.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the prognostic significance of human papillomavirus (HPV) status among patients treated by salvage radiation therapy for local-regional recurrences and second primary cancers of the head and neck arising in a previously irradiated field. Methods and materials The medical records of 54 consecutive patients who underwent re-irradiation for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck occurring in a previously irradiated field were reviewed. Only patients with biopsy-proven evidence of recurrent disease that had previously been treated with doses of radiation therapy of at least 60 Gy were included. Determination of HPV status at the time of recurrence was performed by p16 immunohistochemistry. The median age at re-irradiation was 58.5 years (range, 27.9 to 81.5 years). Thirty patients (55.5%) were lifelong never-smokers. The Kaplan Meier method was used to calculate overall survival, progression-free survival, and local-regional control, and distant metastasis-free survival with comparisons between groups performed using the log-rank test. Results HPV status among tumors that were re-irradiated was as follows: 16 positive (29.7%); 7 negative (12.9%); 31 unknown (57.4%). The median overall survival in the entire cohort was 11.7 months (range, 8 to 27 months), with the 1-year and 2-year estimates of overall survival being 47.2% and 38.4%, respectively. A statistical trend was identified favoring patients with HPV-positive cancers with respect to the endpoints of overall survival (p = 0.06) and progression-free survival (p = 0.08) after re-irradiation when compared to the HPV-negative/unknown population. There was no significant difference in distant control between the two cohorts (p = 0.40). Conclusions The favorable prognostic significance of HPV seemingly extends to patients treated by re-irradiation suggesting that this biomarker may be useful in risk stratification in this setting.
Rationality and Scientific Discovery

Philosophers of Science have long paid lip service to the desirability of distinguishing the questions that arise about the propositions (statements, hypotheses) of a science from those that arise about its concepts (terms, ideas); but hitherto there has been a curious hesitation on their part to explore the consequences of this distinction as far as they will take us. This hesitation is understandable in those writers whose primary commitment is to the methods of mathematical logic, with its formal analysis of propositional systems and relations. But it extends also to those who have no such commitment: e.g. the pragmatists. (Recall William James’s confused question, “What makes an idea true?” — as though concepts could be true-or-false, in the way propositions are!)
Tourism, hybridity, and ambiguity: the relevance of Bhabha's 'Third Space' cultures.

This paper critiques the contribution which Bhabha (1994) has recently made to cultural theoretical thought on historical and temporal forms of ethnicity under the post-colonial moment. Since touri...
Cervical puncture to deliver nusinersen in patients with spinal muscular atrophy

Objective To report our experience delivering intrathecal nusinersen through cervical puncture in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with no lumbar access. Background SMA is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by profound muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis due to degeneration of the anterior horn cells. Nusinersen, the first Food and Drug Administration–approved treatment for SMA, is administered intrathecally via lumbar puncture; however, many patients with SMA have scoliosis or solid spinal fusion with hardware that makes lumbar access impossible. Studies in primates have demonstrated better spinal cord tissue concentration with intrathecal injections than with intracerebral ventricular injections. Therefore we have used C1/C2 puncture as an alternative to administer nusinersen. Method Retrospective chart review. Results Intrathecal nusinersen via cervical puncture was given to 3 patients who had thoracic and lumbosacral spinal fusion: a 12-year-old girl with type 1 SMA and 2 17-year-old girls with type 2 SMA. Cervical puncture was performed without deep sedation under fluoroscopic guidance using a 25-G or a 24-G Whitacre needle in the posterior aspect of C1-C2 interspace and full dose of nusinersen (12 mg/5 mL) was injected after visualizing free CSF flow. Patients completed their 4 loading doses and first maintenance dose of nusinersen, and 15 procedures were successful and well-tolerated. Conclusion Cervical puncture is a feasible alternative delivery route to administer intrathecal nusinersen in patients with longstanding SMA and spine anatomy precluding lumbar access when done by providers with expertise in this procedure.
Evaluating Within-Subject Variability for Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reference-scaled average bioequivalence approach scales the bioequivalence (BE) limits of narrow therapeutic index drugs (NTIDs) to the intrasubject or within-subject variability (WSV) of the reference-listed drug. A clinical study was conducted to evaluate the WSV of warfarin (Coumadin), 10 mg, administered to 10 healthy volunteers exhibiting similar cytochrome P450 2C9 and vitamin K epoxide reductase alleles on 3 study days. Individual intrasubject coefficients of variation for maximum plasma concentration and area under the curve (0-72 hour) ranged from 3.7-15% and from 4.3-16.2%, respectively (R-warfarin) and from 5.4-19.1% and from 2.5-11.9%, respectively (S-warfarin). Two BE tests were performed on a WSV distribution obtained by bootstrapping 1,000 replicates of the clinical data, yielding passing rates of 95-97% for the mean comparison and 84-87% for the variability comparison. The variability comparison passing rate was lower than expected for an NTID product tested against itself, but it may provide further assurance of BE.
Ascertaining Business's Interests and Political Preferences

Medicare is one of the largest social programs in the world. Did organized industry favor Medicare's passage in 1965? If it did, this would represent powerful evidence in favor of the theory that social programs typically require cross-class alliances to pass, such as alliances between business and labor. However, in a previous article in this journal, I argued that answering questions about political actors’ preferences—such as whether organized industry favored Medicare's passage—can be surprisingly difficult due to the “problem of preferences”; that is, political actors might misrepresent their true policy preferences for many reasons. For example, when their ideal proposals are not politically feasible, political actors may wish to bolster support for a more politically viable alternative to a disliked proposal—even if they do not truly support this alternative to the status quo. To better understand political actors’ true policy preferences, I argued, scholars should trace how those actors’ expressed preferences change as a function of their strategic context—just as scholars seeking to understand the impact of any other variable trace the effects of changes in it.
Trends in obesity and comorbid illness in African American and Caucasian females treated for breast cancer.

e12642 Background: Epidemiological estimates demonstrate that there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. One quarter of these survivors are obese; and African American (AA)...
Medical screening of patients with coronary artery disease. Criteria for entrance into exercise conditioning programs.

Abstract Although considerable emphasis has been placed on stress testing and physical training of patients with coronary artery disease, data on safe and thorough preliminary medical evaluation are scarce. Because the routine history and physical examination are not sufficient to protect the exercising subject, medical screening attempts a thorough analysis of the patient's motivation, physical status, possible risk factors and the probability of benefit. Motivation is a critical factor since training for prolonged periods of time at high levels of heart rate and oxygen consumption may be required. Patients who have unstable angina or who may be harmed by increased myocardial oxygen requirements must be excluded. Concomitant influencing diseases and certain medications may also be causes for rejecting a patient. Valvular heart disease and severe systemic hypertension are not associated with benefit from exercise conditioning. The screening physician must exclude patients with certain abnormal electrocardiographic patterns, such as bilateral bundle branch block and type II second degree atrioventricular block, and he must be assured that he is dealing with coronary artery disease, not a pathologic process that mimics it. When these principles are applied, few persons in organized programs of exercise conditioning should suffer, and the yield of good results should be enhanced.
Survey data on thermal properties of different hyperbranched polymers (HBPs) and on morphological and thermal analysis of the corresponding epoxy matrix nanocomposites.

Abstract The following data describe the thermal properties of two different typologies of Hyperbranched Polymers (HBPs): the first one is a polyester (HBPG – Hyperbranched Polymer Glassy) with a glass transition temperature (Tg) higher than room temperature (∼90 °C) whereas the second one is a polyamide ester (HBPR – Hyperbranched Polymer Rubbery) characterized by Tg of about 20 °C. The nanocomposites manufactured using these HBPs as filler were characterized using Optical Microscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. The raw data for the evaluation of fracture toughness properties are reported for the listed materials. This article provides data related to “The effect of Glassy and Rubbery Hyperbranched Polymers as Modifiers in Epoxy Aeronautical Systems” (Zotti et al.).
Accountability and the Regulation of Legitimacy: Biodiversity Conservation and Energy Extraction in the American West

Energy extraction in the western United States poses existential risks to sage-grouse, a charismatic ground-nesting bird. Study of how this concern is integrated into the governance of the sector can inform a broader analysis of sustainability transitions. I introduce a model of co-evolution of standards of legitimacy and material practices that highlights how emergence of new accountability ‘tests’ can potentially drive socioecological transformation. This evolutionary model emphasises accountability and legitimacy as mechanisms of selection (demographic/behavioural change). Because accountability mechanisms and selection pressures do not exist to transform the Colorado energy sector in a manner that benefits sage-grouse, the assessment reveals that there is no sustainability transition underway. As we focus on the broader analytical and practical challenges presented by sustainability transitions, attention to accountability, legitimacy, and selection mechanisms will be essential.
Breakin’ (Pacemakers): Electric Boogaloo

Indications for pacemakers are numerous, but all pacemakers are placed to maintain or restore a normal heartbeat. Common indications include pacing for sinus node dysfunction, acquired atrioventricular block, chronic bifasicular block, pacing for atrioventricular block associated with myocardial infarction, hypersensitive carotid sinus syndrome, and neurocardiogenic syncope. Often, the necessity of permanent pacemaker implantation is driven by a nonreversible conduction abnormality associated with symptomatic bradycardia.
Reactivation Viremia in Pediatric Sepsis.

Objectives Reactivation viremia is associated with adverse clinical outcomes and immune dysfunction in adults with sepsis. We determined the incidence of viremia and its association with clinical outcomes and immune paralysis phenotype in children with severe sepsis. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Single academic PICU from September 2016 to March 2018. Patients Fifty-nine patients 2-17 years old treated for severe sepsis. Interventions None. Measurements and main results We performed real-time polymerase chain reaction assays on whole blood specimens to determine the incidence of cytomegalovirus. Cytomegalovirus was detected in three patients (5%). All patients with cytomegalovirus viremia were seropositive, with an incidence of 13% in this subset. We additionally performed Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus-6 polymerase chain reaction assays on last available specimens and detected Epstein-Barr virus in 4% and human herpesvirus-6 in 30% of the study population. Overall, viremia was not associated with clinical outcomes or immune function in univariable analyses. However, viremia was associated with lower odds of complicated course (defined as death within 28 d or ≥ 2 organ dysfunctions at 7 d) after controlling for age, Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score, and blood transfusion (adjusted odds ratio, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.01-0.84; p = 0.04). Conclusions Children with severe sepsis had low rates of detectable viremia, which limited analyses of its association with clinical outcomes or immune paralysis phenotype. Given the rare occurrence of cytomegalovirus viremia, in particular, our study does not support a role for viremia as a biomarker of illness severity or as a modifiable risk factor of clinical outcomes for most patients. Future studies on the role of viremia in pediatric sepsis will need to consider the challenges posed by low rates of viremia in this population.
External temperature and distance from nearest entrance influence microclimates of cave and culvert‐roosting tri‐colored bats ( Perimyotis subflavus )

Many North American bat species hibernate in both natural and artificial roosts. Although hibernacula can have high internal climate stability, they still retain spatial variability in their thermal regimes, resulting in various "microclimates" throughout the roost that differ in their characteristics (e.g., temperature and air moisture). These microclimate components can be influenced by factors such as the number of entrances, the depth of the roost, and distance to the nearest entrance of the roost. Tri-colored bats are commonly found roosting in caves in winter, but they can also be found roosting in large numbers in culverts, providing the unique opportunity to investigate factors influencing microclimates of bats in both natural and artificial roost sites. As tri-colored bats are currently under consideration for federal listing, information of this type could be useful in aiding in the conservation and management of this species through a better understanding of what factors affect the microclimate near roosting bats. We collected data on microclimate temperature and microclimate actual water vapor pressure (AWVP) from a total of 760 overwintering tri-colored bats at 18 caves and 44 culverts. Using linear mixed models analysis, we found that variation in bat microclimate temperatures was best explained by external temperature and distance from nearest entrance in both caves and culverts. External temperature had a greater influence on microclimate temperatures in culverts than caves. We found that variation in microclimate AWVP was best explained by external temperature, distance from nearest entrance, and proportion from entrance (proportion of the total length of the roost from the nearest entrance) in culvert-roosting bats. Variation in microclimate AWVP was best explained by external temperature and proportion from entrance in cave-roosting bats. Our results suggest that bat microclimate temperature and AWVP are influenced by similar factors in both artificial and natural roosts, although the relative contribution of these factors differs between roost types.
Training the Next Generation of Health Equity Researchers: Exploring STEM Pathways and Best Practices.

Training the Next Generation of Health Equity Researchers: Exploring STEM Pathways and Best Practices
The Effect of Mental Fatigue on Neuromuscular Function is Similar in Young and Older Women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a mentally fatiguing task on neuromuscular function in young and older women. Neuromuscular measures were obtained prior to and following 20 min of a mentally fatiguing task. Maximal force output significantly decreased after the mental fatigue task (p = 0.02) and this was not different between age groups (p = 0.32). Increases in cortical silent period duration approached significance in both young and older groups (p = 0.06), suggesting that mental fatigue may cause increased cortical inhibition. Measures of peripheral neuromuscular function (contractile properties of the muscle, M-wave) did not change (p ≥ 0.09), suggesting that changes in force production with mental fatigue are more likely due to supraspinal than peripheral mechanisms. These findings provide further evidence of an interaction between mental fatigue and physical function.
Autoimmune retinopathy associated with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: a case report

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a plasma cell dyscrasia and precursor to multiple myeloma. It has known ocular manifestations, but has not previously been shown to have an association with autoimmune retinopathy. A 57 year-old female presented with 1 year of progressive, bilateral, peripheral vision loss, photopsias, and nyctalopia. Her fundus examination and extensive ancillary testing were concerning for hereditary versus autoimmune retinopathy. The patient was found to have anti-retinal antibodies against carbonic anhydrase II and enolase proteins with a negative genetic retinal dystrophy panel. Malignancy work-up was negative, but the patient was diagnosed with MGUS, a premalignant condition. The patient was treated with immunosuppressive therapies, with rituximab demonstrating the most robust therapeutic response with respect to patient symptoms and ophthalmic testing. MGUS should be considered as a potential etiology of autoimmune retinopathy in patients without other autoimmune or malignant disease processes. Immunosuppressive therapy may be helpful in limiting disease progression, with rituximab showing efficacy in retinopathy refractory to other agents.
FedVision: Federated Video Analytics With Edge Computing

Widely deployed smart cameras are generating a large amount of video data and capable of processing frames on devices. Empowered by edge computing, the video data can also be offloaded to edge servers for processing. By leveraging the on-device processing and computation offloading, we propose a federated video analytics system named FedVision to efficiently provision video analytics across devices and servers. The challenge of designing FedVision is to optimally use the computing and networking resources for video analytics. Since there is no closed-form expression of the system performance, black-box optimization is employed to optimize the system performance. However, using black-box optimization directly incurs excessive system queries that lead to very poor system performance. To solve this problem, we design a new optimization method that integrates black-box optimization with Neural Processes (NPs) as a system performance approximator. This method allows black-box optimizer to query NPs instead of the real system. We validate the performance of FedVision and the new optimization method using both numerical results and experiments with a testbed.
Treatment of MEK inhibitor-induced paronychia with doxycycline.

A 12-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis type 1 and a large facial plexiform neurofibroma had been participating in a selumetinib clinical trial for the past 5 years. Despite decreased tumor size, she developed recalcitrant selumetinib-induced paronychia. Various antibiotics, topical medications, and surgeries were only minimally effective. Full-dose doxycycline resolved the paronychia, and sub-antimicrobial dosing has prevented recurrences for several months, permitting her to continue her selumetinib course.
Faculty Preferences in Clinical Education Recognition: A Survey of Faculty at 3 Institutions:

Purpose:Innovative studies have created proposals for measuring productivity using Relative Value Unit (RVU) or Educational Value Unit (EVU) systems, but little attention has been given to faculty ...
An Integrative Ecological Drought Framework to Span Plant Stress to Ecosystem Transformation

Droughts have increased globally in the twenty-first century and are expected to become more extreme and widespread in the future. Assessments of how drought affects plants and ecosystems lack consistency in scope and methodology, confounding efforts to mechanistically interpret structural and functional impacts and predict future transformations under climate change. To promote integration among studies, we identify water deficit conditions that are ecologically meaningful, clarify the stages in which ecological drought progresses, and consider approaches to synthesize drought effects across multiple species and ecosystems. This improved ecological drought framework reveals advantages of using different ecological drought metrics and strengthens approaches to distinguish ecosystem stress from crossing an irreversible threshold. We employ several well-studied examples from water-limited ecosystems, which contain plants that are often at their physiological limits and highly responsive to climate variability. We suggest that emerging research on early warning signs, drought recovery, and the effects of land management interventions be incorporated into the ecological drought framework. An integrative approach to understand ecological drought can accelerate scientific advancement and create opportunity to adapt and prepare for crossing irreversible ecosystem thresholds.
Divergent Experiences and Patterns of Integration: Contemporary Chinese Immigrants in Metropolitan Los Angeles, USA

Since China’s open-door and economic reform in 1979, new waves of emigration from the country have been increasingly diverse with highly skilled immigrants on one hand and unskilled or undocumented...
Antimicrobial susceptibility in Mannheimia haemolytica isolated from high-risk Stocker cattle after metaphylaxis and treatment

Metaphylaxis (mass antimicrobial treatment) is commonly administered to high-risk cattle to limit bovine respiratory disease (BRD). While metaphylaxis decreases BRD morbidity and mortality, some cattle still require subsequent BRD treatments. Moreover, widespread application of anti-microbial drugs with extended duration of therapeutic concentrations in lung could increase antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria that cause BRD. Reports indicate increasing prevalence of AMR in Mannheimia haemolytica, the leading bacterial contributor to BRD in feedlot and Stocker cattle. The role that metaphylaxis has contributed to the recognized increase in AMR prevalence in M. haemolytica has not been well described. The impact of AMR on health outcomes in cattle managed to treat and control BRD is also not clear. The objective of this research was to describe the prevalence of AMR M. haemolytica in auction market-derived Stocker cattle that received a long acting macrolide for metaphylaxis, followed by treatment as necessary for BRD with other antimicrobials, over the first 21 days after receiving
A digital current mode control technique for DC-DC converters

This paper introduces a digital average current-mode controller architecture based on a low-resolution current A/D converter and a simple digital controller realization. The proposed approach combines advantages of practical digital realization and current-mode control for DC-DC converters operating at high switching frequencies. An experimental test circuit includes an experimental prototype current A/D converter, a controller implemented on an FPGA, and a 6 V-to-1.8 V, 10 A synchronous buck power stage operating at 200 KHz. Experimental verification results are described
FUSE Observations of the Cygnus Loop: O VI Emission from a Nonradiative Shock*

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) observations of a Balmer filament in the northeast region of the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant. The data consist of one spectrum obtained through the 30'' × 30'' (LWRS) aperture and three spectra at adjacent positions obtained through the 4'' × 20'' (MDRS) aperture. The nonradiative shocks in the region giving rise to these faint optical filaments produce strong O VI λλ1032, 1038 emission, which is detected in all the spectra. The O VI emission is resolved by FUSE into a strong component centered at 0 km s-1 and weaker components centered at ±140 km s-1. The MDRS spectra allow us to study the variation of O VI emission in the postshock structure. We find that the zero-velocity emission is associated directly with the Balmer filament shock, while the high-velocity emission comes from a more uniformly distributed component elsewhere along the line of sight. We also find that the shocks producing the emission at ±140 km s-1 have velocities between 180 and 220 km s-1, if we assume that the ram pressure driving them is the same as for the zero-velocity component shock. In the context of the cavity model for the Cygnus Loop, the interaction of the blast wave with the spherical shell that forms most of the cavity wall can naturally give rise to the similar red- and blueshifted components that are observed.
Multiscale Green’s function for silicene and its application to calculation of the strain field due to a vacancy

The multiscale Green’s function method is extended to dual-planar, two-dimensional lattices and applied to calculate the lattice distortion and the strain field due to a vacancy in silicene. The method fully accounts for the discrete atomistic structure of the solid and links the atomistic and the macroscopic continuum scales seamlessly in the asymptotic limit.
Skin-penetrating nematodes exhibit life-stage-specific interactions with host-associated and environmental bacteria.

Background Skin-penetrating nematodes of the genus Strongyloides infect over 600 million people, posing a major global health burden. Their life cycle includes both a parasitic and free-living generation. During the parasitic generation, infective third-stage larvae (iL3s) actively engage in host seeking. During the free-living generation, the nematodes develop and reproduce on host feces. At different points during their life cycle, Strongyloides species encounter a wide variety of host-associated and environmental bacteria. However, the microbiome associated with Strongyloides species, and the behavioral and physiological interactions between Strongyloides species and bacteria, remain unclear. Results We first investigated the microbiome of the human parasite Strongyloides stercoralis using 16S-based amplicon sequencing. We found that S. stercoralis free-living adults have an associated microbiome consisting of specific fecal bacteria. We then investigated the behavioral responses of S. stercoralis and the closely related rat parasite Strongyloides ratti to an ecologically diverse panel of bacteria. We found that S. stercoralis and S. ratti showed similar responses to bacteria. The responses of both nematodes to bacteria varied dramatically across life stages: free-living adults were strongly attracted to most of the bacteria tested, while iL3s were attracted specifically to a narrow range of environmental bacteria. The behavioral responses to bacteria were dynamic, consisting of distinct short- and long-term behaviors. Finally, a comparison of the growth and reproduction of S. stercoralis free-living adults on different bacteria revealed that the bacterium Proteus mirabilis inhibits S. stercoralis egg hatching, and thereby greatly decreases parasite viability. Conclusions Skin-penetrating nematodes encounter bacteria from various ecological niches throughout their life cycle. Our results demonstrate that bacteria function as key chemosensory cues for directing parasite movement in a life-stage-specific manner. Some bacterial genera may form essential associations with the nematodes, while others are detrimental and serve as a potential source of novel nematicides.
Throughput bound minimization for random access channel assignment

Throughput extremization is an important facet of performance modeling for low-power wide-area network (LP-WAN) wireless networks (e.g., LoRaWAN) as it provides insight into the best and worst case behavior of the network. Our previous work on throughput extremization established lower and upper bounds on throughput for random access channel assignment over a collision erasure channel in which the lower bound is expressed in terms of the number of radios and sum load on each channel. In this paper the lower bound is further characterized by identifying two local minimizers (a load balanced assignment and an imbalanced assignment) where the decision variables are the number of radios assigned to each channel and the total load on each channel. A primary focus is to characterize how macro-parameters of the optimization, i.e., the total number of radios, their total load, and the minimum load per radio, determine the regions under which each of the local minimizers is in fact the global minimizer.
COVID-19, Police Violence, and Educational Disruption: The Differential Experience of Anxiety for Racial and Ethnic Households.

BACKGROUND The threat of a deadly pandemic, racial tension, recessionary economic circumstances, and educational disruption likely contributed to the heightened anxiety felt by many Americans in 2020. This study examines the differential anxiety experienced by Black, White, and Hispanic households with and without children during 2020. METHOD Data from the Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey detailing the frequency of anxiety among a nationally representative sample of adults from April 23 to December 21, 2020, was coupled with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention records of COVID-19 diagnoses and state-level police killings. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the relative contribution of COVID-19 deaths, police violence, unemployment, fear of unemployment, change in educational delivery, and geographic location to anxiety among racial/ethnic cohorts with and without children. RESULTS Anxiety frequency increased over the sample for all groups. However, White anxiety was highly responsive to state-level COVID-19 fatalities, while Black anxiety was highly correlated with police violence. Households with children showed higher levels of anxiety during nontraditional educational delivery, whereas both households with and without children experienced high levels of fear regarding employment uncertainty and poverty. CONCLUSIONS Experiences in 2020 impacted all groups differently, but each showed a high frequency of anxiety.
Scale-Invariant Branch Distribution from a Soluble Stochastic Model

We consider a general model of branch competition that automatically leads to a critical branching configuration. This model is inspired by the 4−η expansion of the dielectric breakdown model, but the mechanism of arriving at the critical point may be of relevance to other branching systems as well, such as fractures. The exact solution of this model clarifies the direct renormalization procedure used for the dielectric breakdown model, and demonstrates nonperturbatively the existence of additional irrelevant operators with complex scaling dimensions leading to discrete scale invariance. The anomalous exponents are shown to depend upon the details of branch interaction; we contrast with the branched growth model in which these exponents are universal to lowest order in 1−ν, and show that the branched growth model includes an inherent branch interaction different from that found in the dielectric breakdown model. We consider stationary and non-stationary regimes, corresponding to different growth geometries in the dielectric-breakdown model.
Promising Concepts in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Management strategies for subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) include early aneurysm obliteration, pharmacologic prevention of vasospasm, therapeutic (but not prophylactic) hyperdynamic therapy, targeted critical care, and rehabilitation. Despite recent advances, major gaps in our knowledge remain, and many potentially salvageable patients have devastating outcomes. Neuroprotective, prognostic, and pharmacologic developments are especially promising. This chapter highlights areas of intensive study in SAH management, with hopes that the efforts of dedicated clinician-scientists will come to fruition in the near future. I mean to highlight promising areas of active study with preliminary data or research funding, not today’s state-of-the-art. There are no express or implied guarantees about actual progress.
Religion and Health

Empirical studies and theoretical reasoning about religion and health began with the origins of the discipline of sociology, but remained undeveloped through most of the twentieth century. Interdisciplinary research in epidemiology, gerontology, psychology, and sociology has provided evidence of a moderately strong positive association between religion and health in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. Physical health outcomes have focused on mortality, mental health outcomes on depression. Multiple explanatory mechanisms, including reduced health risk behaviors, expanded social support networks, and effective coping strategies, have been proposed and tested. Existing theoretical frameworks draw on Durkheim's concepts of social integration and regulation, the sacred and the profane, and Weber's concept of theodicy.
The foreknowledge conundrum

The apparent incompatibility between divine foreknowledge and human freedom, which has been recognized as a problem since the early days of the Christian Church, was examined with unprecedented energy and thoroughness during the last third of the twentieth century. This examination formed an integral part of the application of the techniques of analytic philosophy to the principal divine attributes, but it was triggered by a pair of seminal articles by Arthur Prior and Nelson Pike.1This essay will present the foreknowledge conundrum and consider the principal responses to it that have emerged during this period.