cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO2 solubility in multi-component brines containing NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 and MgCl2 at 297 K and 1–14 MPa

Abstract Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing CO 2 from point sources and injecting it into deep saline formations. Over time, the injected CO 2 dissolves into the saline pore waters forming an aqueous solution that is both a negatively buoyant fluid (sinks) and geologically reactive. Deep saline aquifers are geochemically complex and experimental studies have several gaps in solubility measurements for the multi-component brines that are needed to model the fate and reaction of CO 2 . New experimental data are presented here for three of the most common salts found in potential carbon storage locations, NaCl, KCl and MgCl 2 , as well as multi-salt brines including these salts and CaCl 2 . These experimental data are compared with available literature data and models used to predict CO 2 solubility in single- and multi-component brines. Comparison of the experimental data with the models indicates that the reactor does work in the range of temperature, pressure and salinity presented here and that available models can accurately predict the solubility of CO 2 in various salt solutions.
Nondestructive Inspection of Thin, Low-Z Samples using Multiplexed Compton Scatter Tomography

The viability of a Compton scattering tomography system for nondestructively inspecting thin, low Z samples for corrosion is examined. This technique differs from conventional x-ray backscatter NDI because it does not rely on narrow collimation of source and detectors to examine small volumes in the sample. Instead, photons of a single energy are backscattered from the sample and their scattered energy spectra are measured at multiple detector locations, and these spectra are then used to reconstruct an image of the object. This multiplexed Compton scatter tomography technique interrogates multiple volume elements simultaneously. Thin samples less than 1 cm thick and made of low Z materials are best imaged with gamma rays at or below 100 keV energy. At this energy, Compton line broadening becomes an important resolution limitation. An analytical model has been developed to simulate the signals collected in a demonstration system consisting of an array of planar high-purity germanium detectors. A technique for deconvolving the effects of Compton broadening and detector energy resolution from signals with additive noise is also presented. A filtered backprojection image reconstruction algorithm with similarities to that used in conventional transmission computed tomography is developed. A simulation of a 360–degree inspection gives distortion-free results. In a simulation of a single-sided inspection, a 5 mm × 5 mm corrosion flaw with 50% density is readily identified in 1-cm thick aluminum phantom when the signal to noise ratio in the data exceeds 28.
The counter-regulatory effects of ESE-1 during angiotensin II-mediated vascular inflammation and remodeling.

E26 transformation-specific sequence (ETS) factors are a family of transcription factors that share a highly conserved DNA-binding domain. The name ETS originates from a sequence that was detected in an avian erythroblastosis virus, E26, where it formed a transforming gene together with Δgag and c-myb.1,2 There are ~25–30 ETS family members in a variety of species from drosophila to man. ETS factors are involved in regulating a wide variety of biological processes including normal development and differentiation.3 As proto-oncogenes they have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of several different types of cancer.4,5 The epithelium-specific ETS transcription factor-1 (ESE-1) was originally identified as an epithelial-restricted ETS factor.6 Under noninflammatory conditions, ESE-1 is only expressed in cells of epithelial origin. However, in response to inflammatory stimuli such as endotoxin or proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), this transcription factor is highly induced in cultured primary endothelial cells or vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).7 In a mouse model of endotoxemia, ESE-1 is rapidly induced in the endothelium and first medial layer of VSMC of the mouse aorta.7 Target genes regulated by ESE-1 include nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2).7,8 ESE-1 has also recently been shown to function in the regulation of TNF-α-mediated expression of angiopoietin-1 in the setting of inflammatory arthritis.9 The transcriptional activity of ESE-1 can be positively and negatively modified by its interaction with other proteins. Whereas binding of ESE-1 to CBP and p300 is associated with an increase in the transcriptional activity of ESE-1, interaction with Ku proteins represses ESE-1 function.10 ETS factors have also been shown to play an important role in angiotensin II (Ang II)–mediated vascular inflammation and remodeling. In particular, we have previously shown that the prototypic member of the ETS family, Ets-1, is a critical transcriptional mediator of Ang II–mediated vascular inflammatory responses.11 The participation of other selected ETS factors in vascular inflammation was recently reviewed.12 However, the role of ESE-1 in Ang II–mediated vascular inflammation and remodeling has not previously been explored. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether ESE-1 expression is similarly induced in vivo, in the vasculature, in response to Ang II stimulation, and secondarily to determine whether or not ESE-1 plays an important modulatory role by positively or negatively regulating vascular inflammatory responses to Ang II.
Cardiac amyloidosis masquerading as biventricular hypertrophy in a patient with multiple myeloma.

Cardiac amyloidosis or amyloid cardiomyopathy is a rare disorder characterised by extracellular deposition of insoluble polymers composed of low-molecular-weight subunit proteins within the myocardium. This often results in an infiltrative cardiomyopathy with restrictive pathophysiology, leading to progressive heart failure. In this report, we present an interesting case of cardiac amyloidosis that eventually led to the diagnosis of underlying multiple myeloma in a patient with no previous cardiac history. Cardiac amyloidosis should be suspected in patients with unexplained congestive heart-failure symptoms accompanied by low-voltage complexes on ECG, preserved ejection fraction with asymmetric ventricular hypertrophy and abnormal myocardial texture, described as ‘granular sparkling’ on echocardiogram. Patients with cardiac amyloidosis should be closely monitored as mortality remains high, despite advances in treatment.
Epidemiological analysis of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Hebei province, China in 2011

Objective Hebei province, China in 2011 and analyze the surveillance data and to provide a scientific basis for the control of HFRS. Methods The epidemic data of HFRS were collected. The density and virus carrying rate of rodents at each surveillance site was recorded. PCR genotyping was performed using the positive lungs of rodents. Results In 2011, 513 cases of HFRS including one death were reported in Hebei province, with an incidence rate of 0.71/10 5 and a fatality rate of 0.20%. These cases were distributed in 74 counties (cities, districts), mostly in Qinhuangdao city and Tangshan city, in Hebei. The peak seasons were in spring and winter. The percentage of cases occurring from March to June was 42.50%, and 205 cases (30.02%) occurred from October to January of the next year. Of all cases, 364 (70.96%) were aged 20-59 years. The male to female ratio was 2.72∶1. Peasants amounted for 78.36% of all cases. The rodent density in residential area was 2.04%, and the virus carrying rate was 7.41%; the rodent density in the field was 0.64%, and the virus carrying rate was 0. The dominant species of rodents in the residential area and field was Rattus norvegicus. The PCR genotyping using positive lungs showed that all belonged to Rattus type (type Ⅱ). Conclusion Hebei province is a mixed epidemic area of HFRS, mostly of Rattus type. We should enhance comprehensive control of HFRS with an emphasis in the 9 counties (districts) with high incidence of HFRS.
Crossing the quality chasm.

Balancing cost and quality care requires thoughtful examination, especially in a discipline like oncology
Inactivation kinetics and factors of variability in the pulsed light treatment of Listeria innocua cells.

Pulsed light (PL) treatment can effectively reduce microbial populations in clear substrates and on surfaces, but its effectiveness varies as a function of substrate or treatment-related factors. For PL to be successfully adopted by the food industry, all factors of influence, as well as the inactivation kinetics for the microorganisms of concern, must be elucidated. In this study, the inactivation kinetics of Listeria innocua and the effect of inoculum size on PL inactivation were investigated. Stainless steel coupons (50.8 by 101.6 mm) of defined surface properties and transparent glass chamber slides (25.4 by 50.8 by 10 mm) were each inoculated with 1 ml of aqueous suspensions of L. innocua containing inoculum populations of up to 109 CFU. The thickness of the liquid layer in the glass slides was 1.16 mm. The inoculated substrates were exposed to PL treatment of up to 17 J/cm2 in a static PL chamber equipped with a pulsed Xenon lamp. Survivors were recovered and enumerated by both standard plate counti...
A Microstructurally Based Multi-Scale Constitutive Model of Active Myocardial Mechanics

Contraction of cardiac muscle cells provides the work for ventricular pumping. The primary component of this contractile stress development in myocardium acts along the axis of the myofilaments; however, there may be a component directed transversely as well. Biaxial testing of tonically activated cardiac tissue has shown that myocardium can generate active stresses in the transverse direction that are as high as 50% of those developed along the fiber axis. The microstructural basis for this is not clear. We hypothesized that transverse active stresses are generated at the crossbridge and myofilament lattice scales and transmitted via the myocardial laminar sheets as plane stress objects. To test this hypothesis, we developed a multi-scale constitutive model accounting for crossbridge and myofilament lattice structures as well as multicellular myofiber and sheet angle dispersions. Integrating these properties in a finite element model of an actively contracting myocardial tissue slice suggested that these mechanisms may be sufficient to explain the results of biaxial tests in contracted myocardium.
Opening of Carborane Cages by Metal Cluster Complexes: The Reaction of a Thiolate-Substituted Carborane with Triosmium Carbonyl Cluster Complexes

The reaction of Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 with closo-o-(1-SCH3)C2B10H11 has yielded the complex Os3(CO)9[μ3-η3-C2B10H9(SCH3)](μ-H)2, 1, by the loss of the two NCMe ligands and one CO ligand from the Os3 cluster and the coordination of the sulfur atom and the activation of two B–H bonds with transfer of the hydrogen atoms to the cluster. Reaction of 1 with a second equivalent of Os3(CO)10(NCMe)2 yielded the complex Os3(CO)9(μ-H)[(μ3-η3-1,4,5-μ3-η3-6,10,11-C2B10H8S(CH3)]Os3(CO)9(μ-H)2, 2, that contains two triosmium triangles attached to the same carborane cage. The carborane cage was opened by cleavage of two B–C bonds and one B–B bond. The B–H group that was pulled out of the cage became a triply bridging group on one of the Os3 triangles but remains bonded to the cage by two B–B bonds. When heated to 150 °C, 2 was transformed into the complex Os3(CO)9(μ-H)[(μ3-η3-μ3-η3-C2B10H7S(CH3)]Os3(CO)9(μ-H), 3, by the loss of two hydrogen atoms and a rearrangement that led to further opening of the carborane cage. Reaction ...
Multiple Bilateral Rib Fractures with Extrapleural Masses

1978;74;449-450 Chest M S Shin rib fractures with extrapleural masses. Roentgenogram of the month. Multiple bilateral http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/content/74/4/449.citation can be found online on the World Wide Web at: The online version of this article, along with updated information and services ) ISSN:0012-3692 http://chestjournal.chestpubs.org/site/misc/reprints.xhtml ( without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. reserved. No part of this article or PDF may be reproduced or distributed Chest Physicians, 3300 Dundee Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. All rights of been published monthly since 1935. Copyright1978by the American College is the official journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. It has Chest
(n,m)-Specific Absorption Cross Sections of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Measured by Variance Spectroscopy

A new method based on variance spectroscopy has enabled the determination of absolute absorption cross sections for the first electronic transition of 12 (n,m) structural species of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Spectrally resolved measurements of fluorescence variance in dilute bulk samples provided particle number concentrations of specific SWCNT species. These values were converted to carbon concentrations and correlated with resonant components in the absorbance spectrum to deduce (n,m)-specific absorption cross sections (absorptivities) for nanotubes ranging in diameter from 0.69 to 1.03 nm. The measured cross sections per atom tend to vary inversely with nanotube diameter and are slightly greater for structures of mod 1 type than for mod 2. Directly measured and extrapolated values are now available to support quantitative analysis of SWCNT samples through absorption spectroscopy.
An Empirical Investigation of the Audit Market in the U.S. Healthcare Sector

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the market for audit services for publicly traded companies operating in the US for-profit (FP) healthcare sector. Complex national and local healthcare laws and regulations suggest the importance of assessing fee effects of joint national-level and city specific expertise among auditors. Using cross-sectional OLS regression analysis, we find that joint expertise significantly affects audit pricing in the healthcare sector. We find a fee premium of 33.6 percent on engagements where auditors are both national and city-specific specialists. We also find that Big-4 auditor reputation is significantly priced in addition to joint auditor expertise, and a significant positive association exists between audit and non-audit service fees — indicating the presence of knowledge spillover effects among healthcare company auditors.
Synthesis and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of [R4W4K]-Levofloxacin and [R4W4K]-Levofloxacin-Q Conjugates

The development of a new class of antibiotics to fight bacterial resistance is a time-consuming effort associated with high-cost and commercial risks. Thus, modification, conjugation or combination of existing antibiotics to enhance their efficacy is a suitable strategy. We have previously reported that the amphiphilic cyclic peptide [R4W4] had antibacterial activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2.97 µg/mL against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Herein, we hypothesized that conjugation or combination of the amphiphilic cyclic peptide [R4W4] with levofloxacin or levofloxacin-Q could improve the antibacterial activity of levofloxacin and levofloxacin-Q. Fmoc/tBu solid-phase chemistry was employed to synthesize conjugates of [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q and [R4W4K]-levofloxacin. The carboxylic acid group of levofloxacin or levofloxacin-Q was conjugated with the amino group of β-alanine attached to lysine in the presence of 2-(1H-benzotriazol-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyluronium hexaﬂuorophosphate (HBTU) and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) for 3 h to afford the products. Antibacterial assays were conducted to determine the potency of conjugates [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q and [R4W4K]-levofloxacin against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Although levofloxacin-Q was inactive even at a concentration of 128 µg/mL, [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q conjugate and the corresponding physical mixture showed MIC values of 8 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumonia, respectively, possibly due to the activity of the peptide. On the other hand, [R4W4K]-levofloxacin conjugate (MIC = 32 µg/mL and MIC = 128 µg/mL) and the physical mixture (MIC = 8 µg/mL and 32 µg/mL) was less active than levofloxacin (MIC = 2 µg/mL and 4 = µg/mL) against MRSA and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. The data showed that the conjugation of levofloxacin with [R4W4K] significantly reduced the antibacterial activity compared to the parent analogs, while [R4W4K]-levofloxacin-Q conjugate was more significantly potent than levofloxacin-Q alone.
Evaluation of postural sway and impact forces during ingress and egress of scissor lifts at elevations.

Workers are at risk when entering (ingress) or exiting (egress) elevated scissor lifts. In this study, we recorded ground impact forces and postural sway from 22 construction workers while they performed ingress and egress between a scissor lift and an adjacent work surface with varying conditions: lift opening designs, horizontal and vertical gaps, and sloped work surfaces. We observed higher peak ground shear forces when using a bar-and-chain opening, with larger horizontal gap, with the lift surface more than 0.2 m below the work surface, and presence of a sloped (26°) work surface. Similar trends were observed for postural sway, except that the influence of vertical distance was not significant. To reduce slip/trip/fall risk and postural sway of workers while ingress or egress of an elevated scissor lift, we suggest scissor lifts be equipped with a gate-type opening instead of a bar-and-chain design. We also suggest the lift surface be placed no more than 0.2 m lower than the work surface and the horizontal gap between lift and work surfaces be as small as possible. Selecting a non-sloped surface to ingress or egress a scissor lift is also preferred to reduce risk.
Cigarette Addiction and Carbon Dioxide Inhalation: A Hypothesis

Therapeutic efforts designed to aid persons in “breaking the cigarette habit” have not been particularly successful. One interpretation of this lack of success is that important variables in cigarette addiction remain to be specified and/or controlled. The present article marshalls evidence to support the hypothesis that the carbon dioxide in inhaled tobacco smoke may be one such variable.
Case of acute mixed liver injury due to hypothyroidism

The effects of hypothyroidism on the liver are not well understood. A 77-year-old woman with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis had stopped taking levothyroxine on her own for 6 months. Her thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was consistent with severe hypothyroidism. She resumed thyroid replacement therapy. The following month, her liver function tests were significantly elevated. Seven weeks after resumption of therapy, her TSH and liver tests had returned to normal. We attribute the mixed hepatocellular injury to hypothyroidism that resolved on correction of the hypothyroid state. This case reminds us that thyroid disease should be considered when evaluating acute liver injury.
Design considerations for low-temperature hydrocarbon oxidation reactions on Pd based catalysts

Abstract Palladium-based catalysts are well known for their catalytic activity in hydrocarbon oxidation reactions in exhaust emission control. There is a need to develop catalysts that perform oxidation at low temperatures (
Utility of 18 F-FDG–PET/CT in Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), together with synovial sarcoma, is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. These tumors can arise anywhere in the body. 18F-FDG–PET/CT provides important additional information in the initial staging of RMS, with a significant impact on its therapeutic management. This imaging approach is also of high prognostic value in the early assessment of the therapeutic response.
Nonseparable Eigenmodes of the Incompressible Boundary Layer

We report the results of a study of the response of the incompressible boundary layer to disturbances of fixed frequency which are generated within the boundary layer. We show that there exists an infinite set of eigenvalues and corresponding nonseparable eigenfunctions. Series expansions for the eigenfunctions were constructed and used to construct initial conditions for numerical computations. The results of the numerical calculations are used to examine the characteristics of these eigenmodes. Sample results are presented.
Use of the Fitmore® hip stem bone-preserving system for the minimally invasive anterior-supine approach in hip replacement.

Despite the undisputed role of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in restoring function and mobility to patients with end-stage hip osteoarthritis, the longevity of the artificial joints is limited In other words, with longer follow-up, some deterioration is evident. 1 As yet, the most notable factor limiting the longevity of hip arthro- plasty, particularly in young, active individuals, is wear of the bearing surface and the ensuing aseptic loosening. 1,2 The release of wear particles, mostly from the articulating bearing surfaces, activates a complex inflammatory pathway that leads to loosening of the prosthesis and osteolysis. 3 The role of the bearing surface has become even more impor- tant as patients undergoing arthroplasty seek high-perfor- mance prostheses to meet their expectations. Since joint arthroplasty was first introduced surgeons and engineers have made adjustments to try to increase its longevity and improve outcomes. One extremely important development is the introduction of a new generation of bearing surfaces. Improvements in design, advancements in manufacturing, and introduction of alternative bearing surfaces have positively affected THA outcomes over recent decades. Introduction of bearing surfaces with better wear characteristics led to a decline in the release of biologically active wear debris and tremendously reduced wear-related failures. Furthermore, availability of better bearing surfaces with increased resistance to wear has allowed orthopedic surgeons to use larger femoral heads, which in turn has led to a substantial decline in the incidence of instability after hip arthroplasty. 4,5 The conventional low-friction metal-on-polyethylene (MOP) bearing surface, which has served our patients so well, is increasingly being replaced by the newer generations of bearing surfaces. However, these modern bearing surfaces are not without their own problems.
Structural Analogs of AF64A: Synthesis and their Effects on High Affinity Choline Transport and QNB Binding

A chronic deficiency in central cholinergic function has been demonstrated in a number of neuropsychiatrie diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.1–6 Until recently, animal models that simulate the neurochemical conditions which appear to cause these diseases in humans, as a result of a direct manipulation of the central cholinergic system, were not available. Over the past few years, however, we have been successful in developing a compound, ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion (AF64A), which has the potential to serve as a novel toxin in developing animal models of human brain disorders in which a cholinergic hypofunction has been implicated.
The Physiology and Pathophysiology of Nitric Oxide in the Lung

The free radical nitric oxide (NO) is generated by the five electron oxidation of a guanidino nitrogen from L-arginine by a group of enzymes termed NO synthases (NOS). In the past decade, it has become clear that this simple molecular species has a remarkable chemical versatility, allowing it to participate in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological cellular processes in the lung [1]. NO has been characterized, for example, as a neurotransmitter [2], a second messenger [3, 4], a paracrine hormone [5, 6], and a cytotoxin [3, 7]. Accordingly, the production, distribution and fate of NO are tightly regulated [8–10]. Derangement of this balance may result in a state of NO deficiency or excess [11], manifested by inflammation [12–14], hypotension [15], transplant rejection [16], macromolecular epithelial hyperpermeability [17], hypertension [18], smooth muscle hyperplasia [19, 20] and ischemia/reperfusion injury [21]. Currently, clinical investigations are underway in which the level of tissue NO is pharmacologically manipulated by exogenous delivery of NO in its gaseous form or via inhibition of NO synthases. The proper application of these approaches in the treatment of pulmonary disease, as well as an understanding of their anticipated side-effects, necessitates an understanding of the physiological and pathophysiologic role of NO in the lung [3]. This review focuses on the role of nitric oxide in the lung and discusses the potential therapeutic options in the management of NO-related disease.
Impact of fish feeds, fish oils, and amino acids on the performance of airlift pumps

Abstract The impact of the addition of a wide variety of commercial, experimental, and larval feeds as well as fish oils, specific lipid products, amino acids, and surfactants on airlift pumping rates were documented. At 250 min after addition, the airlift flow rate varied from 12% to 102% of baseflow for diffuser injection but only 77 to 85% of base flow for direct injection. As a group, the fish and algal-based oils had the greatest impact on airlift flow rate. It is hypothesized that the impact of feed addition is due to lipids and surface-active compounds leaching out of the feed and increasing bubble size. There was a significant correlation between gas holdup and airlift pumping rate. Higher gas holdup was positively correlated with higher water flows. There was also a wide range in speed and range of flow rate recovery; flow recovery may depend on adsorption of lipids on the tank walls or chemical reactions. There was a positive correlation between lipid content and flow reduction, but the physical characteristics of the feed and specific fatty acid profiles of the feed may be important. The use of performance information based on clean water tests may significantly over-estimate pumping rates of airlift pumps. For critical applications, on-site evaluation using actual airlift pumps and feeds may be needed. While feed addition had much more impact on the performance of airlift pumps using diffuser injection compared to direct injection, the significantly higher efficiency of diffuser injection makes this injector type a better choice for many applications.
Modeling the spatio-thermal fire hazard distribution of incandescent material ejecta in manufacturing

A mathematical model is developed to characterize the progressive time-evolution of a fragmenting incandescent object. The objective of these models is to provide a spatio-thermal footprint of the fragmentation field, which can be useful to guide fire safety rules in manufacturing workplaces, as well as to estimate fire hazards. Ascertaining the time-evolution of the temperature of the fragments is quite difficult to measure experimentally, which motivates the model development. Initially, analytical models based solely on ballistics, which provide qualitative trends, are developed to provide insight into the fundamental ratios that govern safe operating conditions. Thereafter, rapid numerical spatio-thermal models, which provide quantitative information, are then developed, based on particle methods. The model uses the released energy from the initial blast pulse to provide the starting kinetic energy of the system of particles and then numerically computes the trajectory and thermal state of the fragments under the influence of Numerical examples and provided and extensions to high-fidelity are discussed.
Predicting pathology provides prostate prognostication

A live primary cell phenotypic assay with single-cell resolution can predict postsurgical adverse pathology with >80% accuracy for patients with prostate or breast cancer.
Paid in Full: Using the Earned Income Tax Credit and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program to Stimulate Financial Planning in Low-Income Communities

This paper will discuss the creation of a system-wide quality service agenda for tax preparation for low-income families, with the chief focus on the Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”). The EITC is an important anti-poverty measure for low-income families. Therefore its administration will have a significant impact on the financial security of these families. The EITC provides not only immediate anti-poverty relief but also capital for long-term asset planning. However, these benefits are only accessed through a complicated filing process. They often require access to sophisticated legal services that are beyond the economic reach of the intended beneficiaries. Legal services within the reach of low-income clients typically lack resources to meet the needs of their clients and lack the expertise to provide effective service. This paper proposes a model that enhances available services. This model improves the access that low-income families have to effective tax preparation and financial planning. This model supports the framework already provided by the IRS, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and local community development corporations. The ultimate purpose of the model is to empower low-income families to control their own wealth planning, gain financial savvy and meet the policy objectives of the EITC.
tau-Functions, Birkhoff Factorizations and Difference Equations

$Q$-systems and $T$-systems are systems of integrable difference equations that have recently attracted much attention, and have wide applications in representation theory and statistical mechanics. We show that certain $\tau$-functions, given as matrix elements of the action of the loop group of ${\rm GL}_{2}$ on two-component fermionic Fock space, give solutions of a $Q$-system. An obvious generalization using the loop group of ${\rm GL}_3$ acting on three-component fermionic Fock space leads to a new system of 4 difference equations.
Benign ethnic neutropenia

Benign ethnic neutropenia (BEN) is one of the most common causes of chronic neutropenia seen in individuals of African, Middle Eastern and West Indian descent, affecting many individuals worldwide. Despite its prevalence, many physicians are not familiar with this benign condition, resulting in unnecessary evaluation and testing for neutropenia in otherwise healthy individuals. Clinically, patients with BEN are at no increased risk of infection despite their neutropenia. Implications of this condition are highlighted in those patients receiving therapies that have a known side effect of neutropenia, most commonly chemotherapy agents. Studies have suggested that disparities in survival among those patients receiving chemotherapy between patients of European decent and African decent may be attributed to measured neutropenia in these populations, questioning whether BEN could be an influential factor. This review encompasses all aspects of benign ethnic neutropenia, providing information about this condition and helping to guide clinical decision-making as to when an aggressive work up and referral are indicated and when it is appropriate to monitor. Additionally, we review the role of genetic studies in identifying the genes related to BEN, summarize the theories that offer the most accepted mechanisms behind the condition, and address the importance of pursuing larger studies to assess the implication of BEN in oncology patients as well as patients taking neutropenia-causing medications.
Direct Measurement of Performance: A New Era in Antimicrobial Stewardship

For decades, the performance of antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) has been measured by incidence rates of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile and other infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. However, these represent indirect and nonspecific ASP metrics. They are often confounded by factors beyond an ASP’s control, such as changes in diagnostic testing methods or algorithms and the potential of patient-to-patient transmission. Whereas these metrics remain useful for global assessment of healthcare systems, antimicrobial use represents a direct metric that separates the performance of an ASP from other safety and quality teams within an institution. The evolution of electronic medical records and healthcare informatics has made measurements of antimicrobial use a reality. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s initiative for reporting antimicrobial use and standardized antimicrobial administration ratio in hospitals is highly welcomed. Ultimately, ASPs should be evaluated based on what they do best and what they can control, that is, antimicrobial use within their own institution. This narrative review critically appraises existing stewardship metrics and advocates for adopting antimicrobial use as the primary performance measure. It proposes novel formulas to adjust antimicrobial use based on quality of care and microbiological burden at each institution to allow for meaningful inter-network and inter-facility comparisons.
Robustness of supply chain networks against underload cascading failures

Abstract In today’s global economy, supply chain (SC) entities have become increasingly interconnected with demand and supply relationships due to the need for strategic outsourcing. Such interdependence among firms not only increases efficiency but also creates more vulnerabilities in the system. Natural and human-made disasters such as floods and transport accidents may halt operations and lead to economic losses. Due to the interdependence among firms, the adverse effects of any disruption can be amplified and spread throughout the systems. This paper aims at studying the robustness of SC networks against cascading failures. Considering the upper and lower bound load constraints, i.e., inventory and cost, we examine the fraction of failed entities under load decrease and load fluctuation scenarios. The simulation results obtained from synthetic networks and a European supply chain network (Cardoso et al., 2015) both confirm that the recovery strategies of surplus inventory and backup suppliers often adopted in actual SCs can enhance the system robustness, compared with the system without the recovery process. In addition, the system is relatively robust against load fluctuations but is more fragile to demand shocks. For the underload-driven model without the recovery process, we found an occurrence of a discontinuous phase transition. Differently from other systems studied under overload cascading failures, this system is more robust for power-law distributions than uniform distributions of the lower bound parameter for the studied scenarios.
VaLeNS: Design of a Novel Variable Length Nested Soft Arm

Over the last decade, soft continuum arms (SCAs) have successfully demonstrated the compliance and dexterity needed to operate in unstructured environments and handle fragile objects. However, their inherent soft compliance limits their performance in situations where stiffness and force transfer is required. In this letter, we present a compact design architecture, which is a hybrid between soft arms and rigid links known as Variable Length Nested Soft (VaLeNS) arm. The design architecture involves a novel SCA nested inside a concentric rigid tube. The SCA can undergo a combination of spatial bending ( $B$ ) and bidirectional axial twist ( $R^2$ ), and can extrude out or retract back into the rigid tube with varying length. The resulting configuration is shown to modulate stiffness up to a factor of ten and exhibits enhanced workspace and dexterity. Furthermore, the VaLeNS arm mounted on a rigid robotic platform allows for bifurcation of the overall workspace into rigid and soft, and can achieve high reachability in constrained environments. The letter demonstrates the effectiveness of the VaLeNS arm system in manipulation tasks that require both the rigid and soft attributes. This design architecture is deemed useful in agricultural applications and in physical human robot interaction.
Smartphone-Based Method for Detecting Periodontal Disease

In this paper, we propose a novel periodontal disease detection method using smartphones, image processing, and machine learning techniques. Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease known to be the main cause of tooth loss. Here, a CIELAB color space is adopted for feature extraction and the support vector machine (SVM) is applied for distinguishing healthy gum from diseased gum. A gadget is designed to block ambient light and eliminate refraction effect as well. We recruited 30 subjects consisting of 15 gum-diseased and 15 healthy subjects. Experimental results show that our proposed method detects periodontal infection with 94.3% accuracy, 92.6% sensitivity, and 93% specificity, respectively.
Identity and lineage fate of proteolipid protein 1 gene (Plp1)-expressing cells in the embryonic murine spinal cord

Background The proteolipid protein (PLP) is the most abundant protein in the myelin sheath of the central nervous system (CNS). The gene coding PLP, proteolipid protein 1 (Plp1) is highly expressed in oligodendrocytes, the myelin-forming cells in the CNS. Previous studies demonstrate that Plp1 gene is expressed in the embryonic CNS much earlier before the generation of oligodendrocytes. However, the progenitor identity and the fate of Plp1-expressing cells are still elusive. Results We employed genetic approaches to permanently label Plp1-expressing cells with the reporter enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (EYFP) and used multicolored immunohistochemistry to characterize their identity and lineage fate. We found that Plp1-expressing cells were initially present without spatial restrictions and later confined to the ventral progenitor domains of the embryonic spinal cord. Our fate-mapping results showed that Plp1-expressing cells during early embryogenesis were multipotent neural progenitor cells that gave rise to not only neurons but also glial progenitor cells whereas they were bipotent glial progenitor cells during later neural development stages and generated oligodendroglial and astroglial lineage cells but not neurons. Intriguingly, postnatal astrocytes generated from embryonic Plp1-expressing glial progenitor cells were present only in the ventral spinal cord. Conclusion Our study reveals that Plp1-expressing cells during embryonic neural development display dynamic cellular identities and have a broader lineage fate than oligodendroglial lineage.
Pars Plana Vitrectomy Reoperations for Complications of Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

Objective To report visual acuity in patients undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) reoperations for complications of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Design Retrospective case series. Subjects Diabetic patients undergoing reoperation with PPV between 2015 and 2018 at a university referral center. Methods Patient charts were reviewed for indication for initial and repeat PPV, baseline clinical characteristics including gender, age, and lens status, and pre- and post-operative best-corrected visual acuity. Main outcome measures Best-corrected visual acuity at last follow-up. Results Of 538 eyes (409 patients) undergoing a PPV for diabetic retinopathy, 153 (28.4%) eyes had reoperation. Among the 130 eyes (119 patients) that met the inclusion criteria, 55 eyes (50 patients) underwent reoperation for complications of PDR, defined as non-clearing vitreous hemorrhage (NCVH) and/or tractional retinal detachment (TRD). Within this subgroup of 55 eyes, 19 (34.5%) eyes had an indication for the first surgery of NCVH. Fourteen (73.7%) of these NCVH eyes achieved a visual acuity of 20/80 or better. When the indication for the first surgery was TRD (33 eyes, 60%), 8 (24.2%) eyes achieved this same outcome (p=0.0011). Conclusion Approximately one of every four eyes treated with PPV for PDR will undergo repeat PPV during follow-up. VA outcomes after the repeat PPV were variable, with NCVH cases achieving better outcomes compared to TRD.
Recent Literature in Discovery History

The Diaries of William Lloyd Holden, 1829 and 1830. Edited by JONATHAN PEPLER. Great Britain: Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 2018. 291 pp., £30.00.AKERMAN, JAMES R. Decolonizing the Map...
Effect of bile duct ligation-induced liver dysfunction on methamphetamine pharmacokinetics in male and female rats.

Abstract Background Several disease states commonly associated with methamphetamine (METH) use produce liver dysfunction, and in the bile duct ligation (BDL) model of hepatic dysfunction, rats with liver injury are more sensitive to METH effects. Additionally, both female rats and humans are known to be more sensitive to METH than males. In consideration of known sex-dependent differences in METH pharmacokinetics, this study sought to determine the potential interaction between sex and liver dysfunction variables on METH pharmacokinetics. Methods Sham or BDL surgery was performed on male and female rats on day 0. Serum biomarker and pharmacokinetics studies with 3 mg/kg subcutaneous (SC) METH were performed on day 7. METH-induced weight loss was measured on day 8. Liver histology evaluation and brain METH concentration measurements were performed on day 9. Results While BDL surgery produced significantly elevated alanine aminotransferase and bile duct proliferation in male compared to female rats, there were no significant interactions between sex and liver function in the pharmacokinetic parameters. Both liver dysfunction and female sex, however, were associated with significantly slower METH serum clearance and significantly higher brain METH concentrations (p Conclusions BDL-induced hepatic dysfunction produces substantial reductions in METH clearance and increased brain METH concentrations in both male and female rats, despite less liver injury in females. This preclinical model may be useful to identify and correct potential liver dysfunction comorbidity-related problems with future pharmacotherapy for stimulant use disorder with METH prior to expensive clinical trials.
Implementation of a Pharmacist Monitoring Process for Patients on QTc Prolonging Antibiotics: A Pilot Study:

Purpose: The purpose of this pilot study was to implement a pharmacist monitoring process for 4 antimicrobials; azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and fluconazole. This pilot study was a pa...
Who Votes among Asian American Ethnic Subgroups

The authors address the gap in what is known about voting among Asian American ethnic subgroups using National Asian American Survey 2016 Post-Election Survey data to investigate the propensity to ...
Fundus albipunctatus photoreceptor microstructure revealed using adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy.

Abstract Purpose Fundus albipunctatus is an inherited cause of congenital stationary night blindness. The objective of this report is to describe structural changes occurring in a macular phenotype of a novel RDH5 mutation producing fundus albipunctatus using high-resolution in vivo imaging. A 62-year-old male with longstanding night blindness underwent imaging and genetic evaluation. High-resolution images of the photoreceptor mosaic were compared to those of a healthy subject. Results of a comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation and genetic testing with imaging including fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), OCT angiography (OCT-A), and adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) are described. Observations The patient presented with visual acuity of 20/25 in both eyes and longstanding poor dark adaptation. Anterior segment examination was unremarkable. Fundoscopy revealed well circumscribed bilateral perifoveal mottling and atrophy in both eyes. Discrete white-yellow flecks were present beyond the vascular arcades extending to the far periphery. Genetic testing revealed a novel compound heterozygous RDH5 mutation (c.388C > T, p.Gln130*; c.665T > C, p.Leu222Pro). OCT demonstrated perifoveal photoreceptor and outer retinal irregularities, which corresponded to a window defect with late staining on FA. OCT-A demonstrated normal retinal vasculature with patchy areas of non-perfusion in the choriocapillaris. Macular abnormalities in both eyes were imaged using AOSLO to assess cone and rod photoreceptor architecture. While clinical features are consistent with a primary rod disorder, confocal AOSLO showed a paucity of normal cones with a small spared central island in both eyes. Rods appeared larger and more irregular throughout the macula. Non-confocal split detection AOSLO imaging revealed the presence of cone inner segments in dark regions of confocal imaging, indicating some degree of photoreceptor preservation. Conclusions and Importance The AOSLO imaging of this particular macular phenotype of fundus albipunctatus demonstrates some of the structural photoreceptor abnormalities that occur in this condition, adding insight to the variable presentation of RDH5 retinopathy. The presence of preserved inner segment architecture suggests the possibility that gene therapy could play a future role in treating this condition.
Exploring Race and Ethnicity Representational Inequities in Illinois Medical Schools.

Purpose: Efforts to increase U.S. medical school student diversity have lagged behind the continued growth of racial/ethnic minorities in the population. A targeted, local approach may catalyze act...
Evaluation of early postoperative day 1 discharge after endoscopic endonasal pituitary adenoma resection.

Objective While multiple studies have evaluated the length of stay after endonasal transsphenoidal surgery (ETS) for pituitary adenoma, the potential for early discharge on postoperative day 1 (POD 1) remains unclear. The authors compared patients discharged on POD 1 with patients discharged on POD > 1 to better characterize factors that facilitate early discharge after ETS. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for patients undergoing ETS for pituitary adenoma at a single tertiary care academic center from February 2005 to February 2020. Discharge on POD 1 was defined as a discharge within 24 hours of surgery. Results A total of 726 patients (mean age 55 years, 52% male) were identified, of whom 178 (24.5%) patients were discharged on POD 1. These patients were more likely to have pituitary incidentaloma (p = 0.001), require dural substitutes and DuraSeal (p = 0.0001), have fewer intraoperative CSF leaks (p = 0.02), and have lower postoperative complication rates (p = 0.006) compared with patients discharged on POD > 1. POD 1 patients also showed higher rates of macroadenomas (96.1% vs 91.4%, p = 0.03) and lower rates of functional tumors (p = 0.02). POD > 1 patients were more likely to have readmission within 30 days (p = 0.002), readmission after 30 days (p = 0.0001), nasal synechiae on follow-up (p = 0.003), diabetes insipidus (DI; 1.7% vs 9.8%, p = 0.0001), postoperative hypocortisolism (21.8% vs 12.1%, p = 0.01), and postoperative steroid usage (44.6% vs 59.7%, p = 0.003). The number of patients discharged on POD 1 significantly increased during each subsequent time epoch: 2005-2010, 2011-2015, and 2016-2020 (p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, DI (OR 7.02, 95% CI 2.01-24.57; p = 0.002) and intraoperative leak (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.25-3.28; p = 0.004) were associated with increased risk for POD > 1 discharge, while operation epoch (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.3-0.71; p = 0.0001) was associated with POD 1 discharge. Conclusions This study demonstrates that discharge on POD 1 after ETS for pituitary adenomas was safe and feasible and without increased risk of 30-day readmission. On multivariate analysis, surgical epoch was associated with decreased risk of prolonged length of stay, while factors associated with increased risk of prolonged length of stay included DI and intraoperative CSF leak. These findings may help in selecting patients who are deemed reasonable for safe, early discharge after pituitary adenoma resection.