cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of acepromazine on the incidence of vomiting associated with opioid administration in dogs

Abstract Objective To evaluate the anti-emetic properties of acepromazine in dogs receiving opioids as pre-anesthetic medication. Study design Randomized prospective clinical study. Animals One hundred and sixteen dogs (ASA I or II), admitted for elective surgical procedures. The dogs were a mixed population of males and females, purebreds and mixed breeds, 0.25–13.4 years of age, weighing 1.8–57.7 kg. Methods A prospective clinical trial in which the dogs were randomly assigned to one of three groups. All groups received acepromazine (0.05 mg kg−1 intramuscularly (IM)). Group I received acepromazine 15 minutes prior to opioid administration. Group II received acepromazine in combination with the opioid. Group III received acepromazine 15 minutes after opioid administration. One of three different opioids was administered IM to each dog: morphine sulfate at 0.5 mg kg−1; hydromorphone hydrochloride at 0.1 mg kg−1; or oxymorphone hydrochloride at 0.075 mg kg−1. Results Dogs receiving acepromazine before the opioid (group I) had a significantly lower incidence of vomiting (18%) than dogs in groups II (45%) and III (55%). The degree of sedation was significantly lower in the dogs receiving the combination of acepromazine and the opioid (group II) than in dogs receiving the opioid as the first drug (group III). Conclusions and clinical relevance Acepromazine administered 15 minutes before the opioid lowers the incidence of vomiting induced by opioids.
Sexual Reproduction Plays a Major Role in the Genetic Structure of Populations of the Fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola

The relative contributions of sexual and asexual reproduction to the genetic structure of populations can be difficult to determine for fungi that use a mixture of both types of propagation. Nuclear RFLPs and DNA fingerprints were used to make indirect and direct measures of departures from random mating in a population of the plant pathogenic fungus Mycosphaerella graminicola during the course of an epidemic cycle. DNA fingerprints resolved 617 different genotypes among 673 isolates sampled from a single field over a 3-month period. Only 7% of the isolates represented asexual clones that were found more than once in the sample. The most common clone was found four times. Genotypic diversity averaged 85% of its maximum possible value during the course of the epidemic. Analyses of multilocus structure showed that allelic distributions among RFLP loci were independent. Pairwise comparisons between individual RFLP loci showed that the majority of alleles at these loci were in gametic equilibrium. Though this fungus has the capacity for a significant level of asexual reproduction, each analysis suggested that M. graminicola populations maintain a genetic structure more consistent with random-mating over the course of an epidemic cycle.
The Reasonable Alternative Design Requirement

Section 2(b) provides that a product is defective in design only if the manufacturer failed to adopt a reasonable alternative design (RAD). Whether the RAD requirement is an efficient and sensible limitation on design defect litigation depends on four questions: (1) does the RAD requirement eliminate the categorical risk theory; (2) is the shift from a consumer expectations analysis to a risk-utility analysis appropriate; (3) is negligence the more appropriate standard for design defect litigation; and (4) will the RAD requirement make design defect litigation too inflexible?
Gendered Barriers to Participation in Gaming Culture

Existing scholarship on gender in gaming does not well consider social structural factors, instead either psychologizing gender issues or rendering it an insignificant variable altogether [1]. Thus, we aim to build on this literature by focusing our analytical frame on conditions of gaming environments that may spur unequal participation by gender. In this paper, we describe the variety of intersections that can occur between interest, gaming communities, and gender, as well as how these intersections impact womens' ability to interact and access the learning potential of these environments.
Lawyers Beware: You are What You Post! The Case for Integrating Cultural Competence, Legal Ethics and Social Media

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak. --Epictetus Words used carelessly, as if they… do… not matter in any serious way, often allow… otherwise well-guarded truths to seep through. --Douglas Adams Happy Mother’s Day to all the crack hoes out there. It's never too late to tie your tubes, clean up your life and make difference to someone out there that deserves a better mother. --Assistant State Attorney in Orange County, Florida No thought left unspoken…social media networking -- ubiquitous in our society -- provides the opportunity for individuals to share their moment-to-moment thoughts and actions. Social media has created communities and its own culture. Social networking communities have empowered individuals to join together to stage uprisings, support charitable causes, launch entrepreneurial ventures, and generally share the accomplishments and defeats of their daily lives. Many lawyers have joined social media networks and are actively participating in both their professional and personal lives. Some lawyers have found social media networks to be beneficial in marketing their practices and in obtaining information and evidence to more effectively represent their clients. Unfortunately, other lawyers have found themselves caught in a quagmire of ethical and professional missteps resulting in disciplinary problems and loss of employment. These lawyers often fail to appreciate the application of the legal ethics rules and standards of professionalism to the use of social media. Moreover, like many other individuals engaged in social media, these lawyers generally seem to lack cultural awareness and perspective on the far-reaching impact that a social media communication may have upon the audience and ultimately upon the communicator. This article explores the importance of cultural competence both as a critical component of effective and ethical legal practice and as it pertains to a lawyer’s participation in social media networking. The article will first define cultural competence and its significance for the legal profession. Next, the article will discuss the culture of the legal profession as it is reflected in social science research, popular culture, and scholarly works. Then, the article will examine the culture of social media and the legal profession’s participation in this culture. Finally, the article will explore the interrelationships of cultural competence, the legal profession, and social media with the goal of providing insight and guidance for lawyers to professionally and ethically engage in social networking.
The mechanical characterization of stacked, multilayer graphene cantilevers and plates

The mechanical properties of stacked graphene sheets with varying number of layers are examined. The stacked sheets are assembled by manually combining single layer CVD-grown graphene monolayers, resulting in a turbostratic multilayer graphene with irregular layer spacing greater than crystalline graphite. Due to the presence of multiple layers, the material is analyzed as a plate rather than a membrane. Bending stiffness is determined via the deflection of micron-scale cantilevers, prepared using focused ion beam milling, while in-plane tensile stiffness is characterized through center-loading of edge-supported circular specimens. Computational modeling and established analytical solutions are used to extract material and structural property information, and benchmark measured properties relative to complementary results from indentation tests. Stacked, few-layer CVD-grown graphene retains an in-plane elastic modulus of 350N/m/layer (corresponding to 1.04 TPa for an inter-layer spacing of 0.335nm), suggesting good load-sharing between stacked layers. Width-normalized bending stiffness was unmeasurable for cantilevers of 1 and 3 layers, while cantilevers of 5 and 10 layers had values of 11,100nN·nm and 1.3·106nN•nm respectively.
Long-tail Vocabulary Dictionary Extraction from the Web

A dictionary --- a set of instances belonging to the same conceptual class --- is central to information extraction and is a useful primitive for many applications, including query log analysis and document categorization. Considerable work has focused on generating accurate dictionaries given a few example seeds, but methods to date cannot obtain long-tail (rare) items with high accuracy and recall. In this paper, we develop a novel method to construct high-quality dictionaries, especially for long-tail vocabularies, using just a few user-provided seeds for each topic. Our algorithm obtains long-tail (i.e., rare) items by building and executing high-quality webpage-specific extractors. We use webpage-specific structural and textual information to build more accurate per-page extractors in order to detect the long-tail items from a single webpage. These webpage-specific extractors are obtained via a co-training procedure using distantly-supervised training data. By aggregating the page-specific dictionaries of many webpages, Lyretail is able to output a high-quality comprehensive dictionary. Our experiments demonstrate that in long-tail vocabulary settings, we obtained a 17.3% improvement on mean average precision for the dictionary generation process, and a 30.7% improvement on F1 for the page-specific extraction, when compared to previous state-of-the-art methods.
Centers of Excellence Development within Multinational Corporations

As organizations expand globally they often find it necessary or more effective to develop Centers of Excellence to reduce cost, improve the efficiency, or leverage organizational assets to improve some aspect of the innovation process. This article will look at the organizational issues involved in the development and launching of new Centers of Excellence in multi national organizations.
Open-Source Radiation Exposure Extraction Engine (RE3) with Patient-Specific Outlier Detection

We present an open-source, picture archiving and communication system (PACS)-integrated radiation exposure extraction engine (RE3) that provides study-, series-, and slice-specific data for automated monitoring of computed tomography (CT) radiation exposure. RE3 was built using open-source components and seamlessly integrates with the PACS. RE3 calculations of dose length product (DLP) from the Digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) headers showed high agreement (R 2 = 0.99) with the vendor dose pages. For study-specific outlier detection, RE3 constructs robust, automatically updating multivariable regression models to predict DLP in the context of patient gender and age, scan length, water-equivalent diameter (D w), and scanned body volume (SBV). As proof of concept, the model was trained on 811 CT chest, abdomen + pelvis (CAP) exams and 29 outliers were detected. The continuous variables used in the outlier detection model were scan length (R 2 = 0.45), D w (R 2 = 0.70), SBV (R 2 = 0.80), and age (R 2 = 0.01). The categorical variables were gender (male average 1182.7 ± 26.3 and female 1047.1 ± 26.9 mGy cm) and pediatric status (pediatric average 710.7 ± 73.6 mGy cm and adult 1134.5 ± 19.3 mGy cm).
Improved small-molecule macroarray platform for the rapid synthesis and discovery of antibacterial chalcones.

Bacterial resistance to current antibiotics is a major global health threat. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the identification of new antibacterial agents. We are applying the small-molecule macroarray platform to rapidly synthesize and screen compounds for activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Herein, we report the synthesis of a 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one (chalcone) macroarray using a Rink-amide linker-derivatized cellulose support. The Rink linker allowed for the incorporation of a broader array of library building blocks relative to our previous syntheses because milder reaction conditions could be utilized; significantly higher compound loadings were also achieved (∼80% vs ∼15%). Analysis of the 174-member chalcone macroarray in off-support antibacterial screening assays revealed three chalcones with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against MRSA comparable to currently used antibacterial drugs and low hemolytic activities. These results serve to...
What Role EO Dimensions Play when a Country is Introducing Economic Liberalization

Many emerging economies are going through a process of economic liberalization that reduces government restrictions on domestic firms and at the same time opens up the domestic market to foreign co...
The Impact and Promise of Open-Source Computational Material for Physics Teaching

A computer-based modeling approach to teaching must be flexible because students and teachers have different skills and varying levels of preparation. Running the “software du jour” is not the objective for integrating computational physics material into the curriculum. Learning computational thinking, how to use computation and computer-based visualization to communicate ideas, how to design and build models, and how to use ready-to-run models to foster critical thinking is the objective. A computational modeling approach to teaching is a research-proven pedagogy that predates computers. It attempts to enhance student achievement through the Modeling Cycle. The Modeling Cycle was pioneered by Robert Karplus and the SCIS Project in the 1960s and 1970s and later extended by the Modeling Instruction Program led by Jane Jackson and David Hestenes at Arizona State University. This talk describes a no-cost open-source computational approach aligned with a Modeling Cycle pedagogy. Our tools, curricular material, and ready-to-run examples are available from the Open Source Physics Collection of the National Science Foundation funded AAPT-ComPADRE digital library.
Facilitated Communication: The Resurgence of a Disproven Treatment for Individuals With Autism:

Purveyors of false treatments frequently claim their treatments are effective, despite a lack of evidence. In some cases, these treatments can lead to dire results. This column examines the use of ...
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Diabetic Kidney

The role of mitochondria in diabetic complications has been viewed as a source of excess superoxide production leading to cell dysfunction. However, with the lack of benefit of non-specific anti-oxidant approaches this view needs to be re-evaluated. With recent studies using real-time imaging of superoxide, metabolomics, flux studies, transcriptomics and proteomics a new appreciation for the role of mitochondria in the evolution of diabetic kidney disease has emerged. Ongoing studies to further unravel the time course and mechanisms that reduce mitochondrial function will be relevant to novel therapies that could have a major impact on diabetic kidney disease and other diabetic complications.
Empowering Processes of a Countywide Arts Intervention for High School Youth

Arts interventions allow young people to address social problems and oppressive forces that impact their lives. Much research has explained the theory behind arts interventions; less has explored the organizational characteristics that may facilitate empowering processes for intervention consumers. The aim of this research is to contextualize dimensions of organizational empowerment in the context of a countywide arts intervention program. Retrospective, cross-sectional, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 primary consumers of a countywide arts intervention for high school students. Directed content analysis of the interview data revealed ten emergent themes that transcended the data inductively. Findings support and extend our current understanding of organizational empowerment, as it relates to a countywide arts intervention program. Implications for policy, practice, and future research are discussed.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE STALK BORER PAPAIPEMA NEBRIS (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) IN NO-TILL CORN

Significantly higher numbers of stalk borer (SB) Papaipema nebris (Guenee) larvae infested no-till corn seedlings were found adjacent to (ie. ca 4 m) field margins, compared to numbers found 30 meters from field margins. Plant species abundant in the areas surrounding SB infested no-till corn fields in southwestern Virginia included tall fescue, Fescuta arundinacea Schreb., and orchardgrass, Dactylus glomerata L. Contour and transect maps of infested fields from 1983 to 1985 suggested SB distribution to be clumped. This distribution was confirmed by high variance to mean ratios of 7.3, 5.8, 12.4, and 9.4 for 1983, 1984, 1985a and 1985b fields, respectively. Green's coefficient of dispersion and Morisita's coefficient of dispersion showed clumping of the SB independent of the mean, variance, and sample size. This is the first documentation that the SB infests fields predominantly on field borders, and the first quantification of the distribution of the SB in no-till corn.
Does Vocational Still Imply Tracking? Examining the Evolution of Career and Technical Education Curricular Policy in Texas:

Vocational education has historically been viewed as a mechanism for reinforcing social stratification by channeling underrepresented students into pathways with limited educational and economic be...
Frog's DCs have it all in one.

Although the amphibian Xenopus laevis produces antibodies as diversified as those from mammals in the primary repertoire, antibody affinity maturation after immunization is relatively poor and has been associated with a poor B cell selection of AID-mediated hypermutations and lack of germinal centers in the spleen, the only secondary lymphoid organ of this amphibian. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, Neely et al., [Eur. J. Immunol. 2018. 48: 430–440] have unveiled the role of distinctive dendritic cell (DC) subset, XL cells, which have the capacity to acquire and retain native antigens for B cell maturation. The complementary evidence presented by this study (immunohistology, tracing antigen complexes, flow cytometry analysis and gene expression profiles of sorted XL cells) provides novel fundamental insights into a major evolutionary step in functional and cellular specialization of DC and follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) in regulating B cell responses.
A Triazole Disulfide Compound Increases the Affinity of Hemoglobin for Oxygen and Reduces the Sickling of Human Sickle Cells

Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin (Hb). During a sickle cell crisis, deoxygenated sickle hemoglobin (deoxyHbS) polymerizes to form fibers in red blood cells (RBCs), causing the cells to adopt “sickled” shapes. Using small molecules to increase the affinity of Hb for oxygen is a potential approach to treating sickle cell disease, because oxygenated Hb interferes with the polymerization of deoxyHbS. We have identified a triazole disulfide compound (4,4′-di(1,2,3-triazolyl)disulfide, designated TD-3), which increases the affinity of Hb for oxygen. The crystal structures of carboxy- and deoxy-forms of human adult Hb (HbA), each complexed with TD-3, revealed that one molecule of the monomeric thiol form of TD-3 (5-mercapto-1H-1,2,3-triazole, designated MT-3) forms a disulfide bond with β-Cys93, which inhibits the salt-bridge formation between β-Asp94 and β-His146. This inhibition of salt bridge formation stabilizes the R-state and destabilizes the T-state of Hb, resulting in reduced ma...
Delivery of Standardized Patient Instructions in the After-Visit Summary Reduces Telephone Calls Between Clinic Visits

Telephone calls from patients can be a large source of between-visit work in outpatient clinics. A baseline audit at the study clinic identified medication refills and test results as the most comm...
Luminosity: High Visibility Apparel for Runners

This running ensemble, which was developed with runners and further conceptualized by the designer, addresses runners concern for safety during runs in low light conditions. The running top, together with the vest meet the criteria outlined by runners in initial design sessions held with over 64 runners. This running ensemble was designed to improve visibility while maintaining thermal comfort for the wearer. Two stages of evaluations by users further ensured that the product developed in this research met needs of users. The design included technical features like storage pockets on the back with reflective tape, thumbholes, and a zipper at the neck that could be unzipped to help with thermal management. Reflective mesh fabric that uses micro glass beads to create the retro-reflective effect was used throughout. Patterns were drafted by hand, digitized into Optitex PDS and cut using a laser cutter to ensure cutting accuracy and efficiency.
Development of an infant complete-airway in vitro model for evaluating aerosol deposition

Abstract A complete-airway in vitro model would be very useful for toxicological dosimetry testing and for developing targeted inhaled medications in cases where conducting in vivo experiments are exceedingly difficult, as with infants. The objective of this study was to determine whether packed bed in vitro models, which contain spheres as the primary repeating unit, provide a realistic representation of aerosol deposition in the tracheobronchial region of infant lungs based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions. The packed bed (PB) CFD model contained an inlet consistent with airway bifurcation B3 (∼lobar bronchi) leading to a spherical array with voids between the spheres forming a divided flow pathway. The hydrodynamic diameter of the voids was approximately matched to the diameter of bifurcations in various lung regions. For comparison, a CFD stochastic individual pathway (SIP) geometry with realistic bifurcations extending from B4-B15 (terminal bronchioles) was selected as an anatomically accurate model. The CFD-SIP model predictions were benchmarked with existing algebraic correlations for aerosol deposition in the lungs and found to be reasonable. Unfortunately, the CFD-PB model did not provide a good representation of aerosol deposition in the tracheobronchial region of human lungs. Through careful selection of the PB sphere size and inlet conditions, total deposition in the CFD-PB model matched CFD-SIP deposition within 10% absolute error across a range of relevant aerosol sizes. However, regional deposition within the CFD-PB model was very different from the CFD-SIP case. Therefore, the PB approach cannot be recommended for determining spatial or temporal distribution of aerosol transport and impaction deposition through the lungs.
Oropharyngeal and laryngeal burn resulting from exposure to endoscope disinfectant: a case report.

Iatrogenic injury from medical disinfectants is an uncommon but potentially devastating complication. We report an unusual, but severe, upper aerodigestive complication from the use of ortho-Phthal...
Mechanisms of homologous and heterologous desensitization of PTH/PTHrP receptor signaling in LLC-PK1 cells

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) activates multiple intracellular effectors, including adenylyl cyclase (AC) and phospholipase C (PLC), via a single receptor [PTH/parathyroid hormone-related protein receptor (PTHR)] expressed in bone and kidney. Homologous desensitization of PTHR signaling occurs, but the relative importance of reduced receptor expression vs. impaired receptor-effector coupling in this process remains unclear. It also is not known if AC and PLC responses to PTH are desensitized independently or interdependently. In LLC-PK1 cells that expressed transfected wild-type PTHRs, PTH caused dose- and time-dependent desensitization of both the AC and PLC-responses to PTH without altering PTHR expression. Desensitization of AC was blocked in mutant cells resistant to adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate but not when cells expressed mutant PTHRs with defective PLC coupling. Desensitization of PLC was unaffected by PKA blockade, partially mimicked by phorbol ester, and not reproduced by agents that selectively activated AC. The finding that homologous PTHR desensitization in LLC-PK1 cells is signal specific suggests that prior exposure of other cells to PTH also may induce discordant regulation of subsequent PTHR signaling, altering the character as well as the intensity of the hormonal response.
A biomimetic neuronal network-based controller for guided helicopter flight

As part of the Robobee project, we have modified a coaxial helicopter to operate using a discrete time map-based neuronal network for the control of heading, altitude, yaw, and odometry. Two concepts are presented: 1. A model for the integration of sensory data into the neural network. 2. A function for transferring the instantaneous spike frequency of motor neurons to a pulse width modulated signal required to drive motors and other types of actuators. The helicopter is provided with a flight vector and distance to emulate the information conveyed by the honeybee's waggle dance. This platform allows for the testing of proposed networks for adaptive navigation in an effort to simulate honeybee foraging on a flying robot.
The Effects of Shared Leadership on Team Dynamics in Six Sigma Teams

This study investigates the relationships and impacts that shared leadership development has on two team dynamic conditions during a Six Sigma project, including internal team environment cohesion ...
Fat and Oil ProductsOpen image in new window

Fat is a principal component of the diet. It is enjoyed in the diet due to such characteristics as its flavor/mouthfeel, palatability, texture, and aroma. Fats also carry the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. Sources of fats and oils may be animal, vegetable, or marine that may be manufactured in some combination in industrial processing. Fats appear solid at room temperature, whereas oils are liquid at room temperature.
Still's Disease and Myopericarditis

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) has a vast array of clinical presentations. Myopericarditis is one of the rarest cardiopulmonary manifestations of the disease and due to its rarity, the literature on the association of myocarditis with AOSD is sparse. Herein, we describe an interesting case of a 44-year-old male who presented with chest pain following exertion. He was febrile at the time of presentation and exam revealed inflammation in various joints. Electrocardiogram showed diffuse ST segment elevations in the precordial leads. Laboratory results revealed elevated troponin of 3.17 (<0.05 ng/mL) and CK-MB of 6 ng/mL along with elevated ferritin of 6225 (16-336 ng/mL). Cardiac MRI showed early and late gadolinium enhancement consistent with myocarditis. The patient was started on steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) resulting in clinical improvement. This case highlights the critical importance of diagnosis of pericarditis and myocarditis in patients with AOSD, as a missed diagnosis can lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
Rethinking Recurrent Latent Variable Model for Music Composition

We present a model for capturing musical features and creating novel sequences of music, called the Convolutional-Variational Recurrent Neural Network. To generate sequential data, the model uses an encoder-decoder architecture with latent probabilistic connections to capture the hidden structure of music. Using the sequence-to-sequence model, our generative model can exploit samples from a prior distribution and generate a longer sequence of music. We compare the performance of our proposed model with other types of Neural Networks using the criteria of Information Rate that is implemented by Variable Markov Oracle, a method that allows statistical characterization of musical information dynamics and detection of motifs in a song. Our results suggest that the proposed model has a better statistical resemblance to the musical structure of the training data, which improves the creation of new sequences of music in the style of the originals.
Cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab for advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with varying comorbidity burden.

Objectives While previous cost-effectiveness studies on pembrolizumab in stage IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have found these regimens to be cost-effective, their reliance on randomized controlled trial (RCT) data with strict inclusion criteria limits generalizability to patients with comorbidities. We estimated the cost-effectiveness of first-line pembrolizumab for patients with various comorbidities. Materials and methods In our base case analysis, we studied pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy (pembrolizumab combination therapy) versus chemotherapy alone. In a secondary analysis, we considered only patients with PD-L1 expression of at least 50% (PD-L1-high) and evaluated pembrolizumab monotherapy, pembrolizumab combination therapy, and chemotherapy alone. Microsimulation models were developed for the base case and the PD-L1-high analyses. To estimate outcomes of patients with differing comorbidities, we combined survival data from patients with few or no comorbidities from the RCTs with estimates from the general population obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database. Comorbidity burden level was divided into three groups based on the Charlson score (equal to 0, 1, or 2+); patients with various other specific comorbidities were also analyzed. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) were compared to a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $100,000/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Results In the Charlson 0, Charlson 1, and Charlson 2+ patient populations, estimated ICERs for pembrolizumab combination therapy in the base case model were $173,919/QALY, $175,165/QALY, and $181,777/QALY, respectively, compared to chemotherapy. In the PD-L1-high model, the Charlson 0, Charlson 1, and Charlson 2+ patients had ICERs of $147,406/QALY, $149,026/QALY, and $154,521/QALY with pembrolizumab combination therapy versus chemotherapy. Pembrolizumab monotherapy was weakly dominated for each comorbidity group in the PD-L1-high model. Conclusion For patients with stage IV NSCLC and varying comorbidity burden, first-line treatment with pembrolizumab does not represent a cost-effective strategy compared to chemotherapy. Resources should be focused on collecting immunotherapy survival data for more representative NSCLC patient populations.
Reinforcement learning framework for freight demand forecasting to support operational planning decisions

Abstract Freight forecasting is essential for managing, planning operating and optimizing the use of resources. Multiple market factors contribute to the highly variable nature of freight flows, which calls for adaptive and responsive forecasting models. This paper presents a demand forecasting methodology that supports freight operation planning over short to long term horizons. The method combines time series models and machine learning algorithms in a Reinforcement Learning framework applied over a rolling horizon. The objective is to develop an efficient method that reduces the prediction error by taking full advantage of the traditional time series models and machine learning models. In a case study applied to container shipment data for a US intermodal company, the approach succeeded in reducing the forecast error margin. It also allowed predictions to closely follow recent trends and fluctuations in the market while minimizing the need for user intervention. The results indicate that the proposed approach is an effective method to predict freight demand. In addition to clustering and Reinforcement Learning, a method for converting monthly forecasts to long-term weekly forecasts was developed and tested. The results suggest that these monthly-to-weekly long-term forecasts outperform the direct long term forecasts generated through typical time series approaches.
Sampling for Spectrophotometry with Special Reference to the Use of the Potassium Bromide Disk Technique

In the period 1936–1950 a number of events conspired to make spectroscopy, first ultraviolet and then infrared, an invaluable tool in the field of biologically important compounds. These events were: 1. the exploitation by Caspersson [1] of the selective absorption of the cell nucleus so that the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of a single cell was possible 2. the success of the application of ultraviolet absorption spectra [2] in the elucidation of the structure of thiamine [3] 3. the various investigations leading to the recognition of the effects of change in pH and effects of ultraviolet irradiation on the spectra of several purines and pyrimidines [4] 4. the advent of commercial spectrophotometers [5] 5. the appearance of methods of handling volatile liquids [6], and also the suggestion that “if a solid can be fabricated by rolling, melting, deposition, and similar methods into a thin sheet or plate” of proper thickness then the solid itself could be examined [7]
Geospatial Distribution and Predictors of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Cohort Study

Background The global Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic offers the opportunity to assess how hospitals managed the care of hospitalized patients with varying demographics and clinical presentation. The goal of this study is to demonstrate the impact of densely populated residential areas on hospitalization and to identify predictors of length of stay and mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in one of the hardest hit counties internationally. Methods This is a single-center cohort study of 1325 sequentially hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in New York between March 2, 2020 to May 11, 2020. Geospatial distribution of study patients’ residence relative to population density in the region were mapped and data analysis included hospital length of stay, need and duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and mortality. Logistic regression models were constructed to predict discharge dispositions in the remaining active study patients. Results The median age of the study cohort was 62 years (IQR - 49-75), and more than half were male (57%) with history of hypertension (60%), obesity (41%), and diabetes (42%). Geographic residence of the study patients was disproportionately associated with areas of higher population density (rs=0.235, p=0.004), with noted “hot spots” in the region. Study patients were predominantly hypertensive (MAP>90mmHg (670, 51%)) on presentation with lymphopenia (590, 55%), hyponatremia (411, 31%), and kidney dysfunction (eGFR&60ml/min/1.73m 2 (381, 29%)). Of the patients with a disposition (1188/1325), 15% (182/1188) required IMV and 21% (250/1188) developed acute kidney injury. In patients on IMV, median hospital length of stay in survivors (22 days; 16.5-29.5) was significantly longer than non-survivors (15 days; 10-23.75), but this was not due to prolonged time on the ventilator. The overall mortality in all hospitalized patients was 15% and in patients receiving IMV was 48%, which is predicted to minimally rise from 48% to 49% based on logistic regression models constructed to project the disposition in the remaining patients on the ventilator. Acute kidney injury during hospitalization (ORE=3.23) was the strongest predictor of mortality in patients requiring IMV. Conclusions This is the first study to collectively utilize the demographics, clinical characteristics and hospital course of COVID-19 patients to identify predictors of poor outcomes that can be used for resource allocation in future waves of the pandemic.
An Exploratory Study of the Benefits of a Three- Week Cycling Expedition for Potential First-Generation, College-Bound Students

This exploratory study examined the benefits of participating in a three-week, multi-state bicycling trip for eight adolescents who participated in a first-generation, college-bound program. The primary purpose of this study was to explore participants’ perceptions of their own resilience, independence, responsibility, and problem-solving and to identify elements of the program that help facilitate the development of these outcomes. Analysis of focus group comments six weeks post experience suggests a cyclical experiential learning model exemplifying the effects of participation, feedback, and reflection on participants’ acceptance of challenge and the process needed to support it. Application of the characteristics described within the model as they apply to first-generation, college-bound student success is provided. Subscribe to JOREL
Religion, Patriarchal Construction and Gender Complementarity in Nigeria

Traditional African cosmological and sociological accounts delineate pictures of complementary gender relations. Such narratives denote the active participation of both gender in the traditional African society. This is contradicted by the Victorian ideology of the colonial era which restricted women’s role solely to the private sphere. This colonial ideology is further perpetuated by contemporary interpretations of holy texts which birth religious fundamentalism, an ideology that reinforces unequal gender relations. This chapter therefore interrogates traditional African gender constructs with the goal of emphasizing the complementary roles played by members of both gender in the traditional African society. Contra Oyeronke Oyewumi, this chapter argues that gender constructs existed prior to colonialism, and should be redefined contemporaneously as complementary, rather than hierarchical or binary opposed.
Pengaruh Penggunaan Smartphone Terhadap Motivasi Belajar Siswa Sekolah Dasar di Kecamatan Mapanget, Kota Manado

The aim of this research is to explain influence smartphone on learning motivation of elementary school students Mapanget Subdistrict Manado City. This research is in four elementary schools used sample are 84 students. This research is a quantitative study used the survey’s method with the following stages: observation of the location of the research, preparation of questionnaires, distribution of questionnaires, validity testing, data collection, processing of research results, analysis of the results of research, and discussion. The result showed that the effect of smartphone on the learning motivation of students in elementary school Mapanget Subdistrict was 0.057 or 5.7% with a significance 0.028 < 0,05. The results of testing t-table is greater than t count, namely t-hitung = 2.232 ≥ (t-tab) = 1.989. This means that smartphone have an effect on students’ learning motivation even though it is in the low category 5.7%. It is recomended that students do not use excessive smartphones both at school and at home. Parents and teachers need to supervise children in using smartphone everday because the effect of smartphone on students’ learning motivation is very low.
Relation between instant and light-front formulations of quantum field theory

Dirac showed that relativity implied three different forms of quantum mechanics (instant, point, and light-front) depending on how boosts and translation generators account for interactions. However, it is non-trivial to prove that these representations are equivalent in quantum field theory. Here, the author demonstrates using non-perturbative techniques that equivalent representations between instant-form and light-front dynamics can be constructed, based on assumptions of a local quantum field theory.
Comparison of 3 C-Arm Draping Techniques to Prevent Far Side Contamination.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of reducing contamination using 2 methods of C-Arm draping compared with traditional methods. Materials and methods The authors simulated an operating room using an extremity drape, commercially available C-Arm drapes, and C-Arm. A black light was placed above the field. A fluorescent powder was placed on the nonsterile portions of the field. Baseline light intensity was recorded by photo. The C-Arm was brought into the surgical field for orthogonal imaging for 15 cycles. A repeat photograph was taken to measure the increase in intensity of the fluorescent powder to assess degree of contamination. This was repeated 5 times for each configuration: standard C-Arm drape, a proprietary close-fitting drape, and a split drape secured to the far side with the split wrapped around the C-Arm receiver. Light intensity difference was measured and average change in intensity was compared. Results Compared with standard draping, the proprietary close-fitting drape resulted in a 71.3% decrease in contamination (4.84% vs. 16.90%, P = 0.101) that trended toward significance and the split drape resulted in a 99.5% decrease (0.09% vs. 16.90%, P = 0.017) that was statistically significant. Conclusion Far side contamination can be reduced by using a split drape connecting the operative table to the C-Arm receiver, effectively "sealing off" contaminants. The proprietary close-fitting drape may also decrease contamination, but this was not statistically significant in this study. Use of the split drape technique will help prevent contamination and may ultimately lead to decreased infection risk.
Role of molecular signature to differentiate second primary lung cancer from metastasis in a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity.

Background Lung is the most common site of distant metastasis for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, differentiating second primary lung cancers from metastasis may be difficult for p16 negative HNSCC. Case We describe a case of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) who was found to have lung nodule and hilar lymphadenopathy (LAD) after surgery and radiation therapy. Hilar node was consistent with SCC however, it was difficult to differentiate second primary lung cancer and metastasis from oral cavity SCC. Next-generation sequencing was done for the primary oral cavity and the hilar node. Both samples had the same type of TP53 mutation and variants of unknown significance suggesting metastatic HNSCC. He was treated with a chemotherapy regimen for metastatic HNSCC. Conclusion Molecular studies can help to differentiate metastasis from second primary lung cancers for p16 negative HNSCC.
Assessing Entrepreneurial Types and Goals With Diverse Student Groups

Students should clearly understand that different types of entrepreneurship exist. It is effective to connect the diversity of entrepreneurial form with students from a multidisciplinary scope of k...
Filling in the “GAPPS”: an unusual presentation of a child with gastric adenocarcinoma and proximal polyposis of the stomach

Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis of the Stomach (GAPPS) is a very rare gastric polyposis syndrome characterized by numerous polyps of the gastric fundus and body. We present the unusual case of a 10-year-old Polish-American male with history of eosinophilic esophagitis, who was found to have multiple fundic gland polyps (FGP) with low grade dysplasia on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Subsequent evaluation including genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of GAPPS, and after exhaustive multidisciplinary consultation the decision was made to proceed with prophylactic total gastrectomy given the markedly increased risk of gastric adenocarcinoma in GAPPS patients. To our knowledge, this represents the youngest patient diagnosed with GAPPS and the youngest patient who has undergone prophylactic gastrectomy for this disease at age 8 and 10 years, respectively. The pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment of GAPPS in a pediatric patient are discussed.
Changes in OGTT-derived biomarkers in response to lifestyle intervention among Latino adolescents with obesity

BACKGROUND Glucose concentrations during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) have been used as biomarkers to differentiate type 2 diabetes risk phenotypes. No studies have examined changes in OGTT-glucose phenotypes following lifestyle intervention among high-risk youth. OBJECTIVE To examine changes in OGTT-glucose phenotypes following lifestyle intervention and to explore differences in insulin sensitivity and β-cell function among post-intervention phenotypes. METHODS Latino adolescents with obesity (n = 48, age 15.4 ± 1.0, BMI% 98.2 ± 1.4, female 56.3%) completed a 12-week lifestyle intervention that included weekly nutrition education and physical activity. At baseline and 12 weeks, youth completed a 2-h OGTT with glucose and insulin concentrations assessed at 0', 30', 60', 90' and 120'. Glucose concentrations during the OGTT were used to identify biomarkers, 1-h glucose, glucose response curve and time to glucose peak. Using these respective biomarkers, high-risk (1-h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dl, Monophasic, Late Peak) and lower-risk phenotypes (1-h glucose < 155 mg/dl, Biphasic, Early Peak) were categorized. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by whole-body insulin sensitivity index (WBISI) and β-cell function by oral disposition index (oDI). RESULTS Following intervention, the prevalence of Monophasic phenotypes decreased from 81% to 67% (p = 0.048) and 1-h glucose ≥ 155 mg/dl from 38% to 10% (p = 0.054). Although Late Peak phenotypes did not significantly change (from 58% to 29%, p = 0.200), Early Peak phenotypes at post-intervention demonstrated significantly higher WBISI compared to Late Peak (2.3 ± 0.1 vs 1.7 ± 0.2, p = 0.023). CONCLUSIONS OGTT-glucose phenotypes improve following lifestyle intervention among high-risk youth. These findings further support their potential utility as clinical biomarkers to identify diabetes risk and risk reduction in youth.
CALCULATION OF ATTACHED OR PARTIALLY SEPARATED FLOW AROUND AIRFOIL SECTIONS

Two-dimensional airfoil theory is developed for incompressible flow, for which most aspects of the solution are found in a "mapped plan." Althougn the airfoil contour has large slopes in the physical plane when the airfoil has a round leading edge, the slopes in the mapped plane are small and uniformly approach zero as the airfoil thickness and camber ratios are made to approach zero by an affine transformation on the airfoil shape. Because of the small slopes in the mapped plane, a perturbation series is appropriate there. A relatively unified theory is given for attached and partially separated (trainling-edge separation) flows. The results of calculations by this theory are compared with the results of other theories and with measurements. The attached-flow theory is shown to be especially appropriate for thim marine propeller sections with blunted leading edges. Some new data on the pressure distribution across the wake at the trailing edge of an airfoil in partially separated flow are presented.
Identification of the sites of phosphorylation in insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1. Regulation of its affinity by phosphorylation of serine 101

Serine phosphorylation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) has been shown to alter its affinity for the insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II) and to modify its capacity to modulate cellular responses to the IGFs. Because of this, we determined the sites of serine phosphorylation. Purification of 32P-labeled IGFBP-1 was followed by digestion with trypsin and endoproteinase Glu-C and radiosequencing of labeled peptides. Three serines were found to be phosphorylated, with Ser101, Ser119, and Ser169 containing 70%, 5%, and 25% of the incorporated 32P, respectively. A mutated IGFBP-1, substituting alanine for serine at positions 98 and 101, was expressed in CHO cells. On nondenaturing gels, the wild type protein migrated as five isoforms (one non-phosphorylated and four phosphorylated). However, in the mutated protein, the most rapidly migrating band (a phosphorylated form) was not present. The cells containing the mutated cDNA incorporated 60% less 32P into immunoprecipitable IGFBP-1. The mutated protein had a 3-fold reduction in affinity for IGF-I compared to the wild type protein. We conclude that Ser101 represents the major site of phosphorylation containing 63% of the total 32P incorporated and that phosphorylation of Ser101 is important for maintenance of high affinity binding for this growth factor.
Just Above the Water: Florida Folk Art

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Kristin G. Congdon and Tina Bucuvalas Year: 2006 Pages: xvi + 288 Publisher: University Press of Mississippi ISBN: 1-57806-778-2 (hard cover). Prices: $65.00 USD(hard cover).