cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimates of Agricultural Employment and Wage Rates

There are two basic approaches to the problem of estimating the number of people working on farms, or in any other sort of establishment for that matter. The first, commonly known as the establishment approach, consists of obtaining information from proprietors in regard to the number of people working in their establishments during a specified reporting period. Either complete enumeration of all establishments can be made, as in Censuses of Agriculture, Manufactures, or Mining; or information can be obtained from a sample of establishments, as is done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Bureau of Agricultural Economics. The second, known as the population approach, consists of obtaining information about the employment activity of individuals either from them or from members of their households. A complete enumeration can be made, as was done in the 1940 Census of Population; or information can be obtained from a sample of households, as is done by the Bureau of The Census for its Monthly Report on the Labor Force.
AIDS: challenges to our health care systems

The presentation excerpted here was given at the Cleveland Clinic's Second Annual Update on the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in May 1989. At that time, the numbers herein were current. Since then, the number of reported cases of AIDS in the United States has surpassed 120,000, and includes more than 2,000 children; the number of American deaths from AIDS has exceeded those occurring as a result of the Vietnam war; and AZT has been recommended for use in both mildly asymptomatic and asymptomatic HIV-infected persons.
Adhesion Of Copper To Polytetrafluoroethylene Polymer Film With Adhesive Layers

Enhanced adhesion of Copper to spin-coated polytetrafluorocthylcne (PTFE) film is achieved by employing an intermediate adhesive layer consisting of fluorinated ethylenepropylene (FEP) and metallic titanium. The peel strength of Cu on PTFE is low (1-2 g/mm) without tile adhesive layer. After incorporating the Ti/FEP adhesive layer, a peel strength as high as 80 g/mm can be achieved. The overall peel strength is found to increase with the adhesive layer thickness. Thermal annealing at high temperatures strongly affects its overall peel strength. Previous XPS study indicated the formation of TiCx, at the Ti/FEP and Ti/PTFE interfaces. Rutherford backscattering spectromnetry and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy studies revealed that significant amount of Cu diffused into the FEP layer through the Ti layer when the specimens were heat treated at 375°C for various amount of time. (Cu diffusion strongly alficts the interfracial properties and hence results in the variation of overall peel strength. The results indicate that the thickness of Ti barrier as well as the heat treatment temperature are important for retaining the high peel strength.
Abstract A56: Loss of wild-type Kras promotes oncogenic Kras-induced leukemogenesis

Although the Ras genes have long been established as proto-oncogenes, substantial evidence indicates that wild-type (WT) Ras genes act as tumor suppressors in a few solid tumor models. However, recent study by Shannon group discovers that loss of WT Nras does not further promote oncogenic Nras-induced leukemias (Xu et al., 2013), raising the possibility that the earlier finding of WT Ras genes as tumor suppressors restricts to specific Ras isoform(s) and/or specific cell types. Here, we show that in mouse cell lines established from oncogenic Kras-induced acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL), WT Kras expression is absent or significantly downregulated due to deletion or epigenetic silencing of the locus. Moreover, WT Kras allele is deleted in ∼30% of primary KrasG12D T-ALL samples but not in pre-leukemia specimens. Our results are consistent with a recent study that WT KRAS allele is deleted in early-stage progenitor ALL patients with an oncogenic KRAS mutation (Zhang, et al., 2012), suggesting that loss of WT Kras expression is a pathological mechanism contributing to T-ALL progression. To test our hypothesis, we generated compound mice carrying a conditional KrasG12D allele, a floxed WT Kras allele and the Mx1-Cre allele. In the absence of pIpC induction, the leaky expression of Cre is sufficient to induce both oncogenic KrasG12D activation and WT Kras deletion in ∼50% of HSCs. We find that KrasG12D/- mice have a much shorter life span than KrasG12D/+ mice and display more severe leukemia phenotypes, including splenomegaly, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and increase of monocytic cells in peripheral blood and spleen. Bone marrow transplantation experiment confirms that loss of WT Kras promotes oncogenic Kras-induced leukemias in a cell-autonomous manner. Further studies demonstrate that loss-of-WT Kras attenuates KrasG12D HSC depletion and enhances GM-CSF signaling in KrasG12D hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). We are continuously working on the underlying mechanisms. Taken together, our study elucidates the cross-talk between WT and oncogenic Kras in leukemogenesis and provides mechanistic insights of the WT Kras function as a tumor suppressor. Citation Format: Yuan-I Chang, Alisa Damnernsawad, Guangyao Kong, Yangang Liu, Qiang Chang, Jing Zhang. Loss of wild-type Kras promotes oncogenic Kras-induced leukemogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A56. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-A56
Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life

Don't let the titillating title deter you from reading this stimulating book! If you are under the impression, as I was, that mitochondria are yesterday's organelles, let Nick Lane show you how much they have taught us that is new, interesting, and quite possibly true. The book is serious and scholarly, yet written in an easy-going, nontechnical style; it makes an enjoyable read. You may wish to reserve judgment on some points (I do, even though I had the privilege of advising the author on several chapters), but the thesis as a whole is persuasive and guaranteed to animate the little gray cells.
Pathology of the spleen in hematologic disease.

While the pathologic changes seen in the spleen in a number of hemolytic anemias are similar, those seen in the spleen involved by malignant lymphoma are varied. The focal nature of Hodgkin’s disease necessitates a careful examination of the spleen so that a small focus of disease is not missed. Gross and microscopic pathology are elucidated.
Comparison with Gender and Postures on Neck Muscle Strength

Literatures reviewing showed that the long-term abnormal postures caused operators to be suffered the musculoskeletal disorders. Despite the prevalence and cost of neck problems increased, few studies evaluated availably the physical characteristics associated with neck problems. Thus, the measurement method of neck strength had been developed and anthropometric measurements of neck and head had been conducted. Present study had been examined the effects of gender and postures on neck strength and anthropometric measurements of head and neck. In addition, the relationship of anthropometric measurements of head and neck and neck strength had been evaluated. Database of head and neck characteristics could be provided the basis to evaluate the Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders of neck area.
Calcium Oxide and Ammoniated Whey Treatment of Cornstalks, Oat Hulls, Wheat Straw and Drought Stressed Corn Plants

Calcium Oxide (CaO) treatment of cornstalks, oat hulls, wheat straw or drought stressed corn plants when added at five percent of the feed dry matter will reduced neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels of these feedstuffs and improve NDF digestibility and in-vitro digestibility to varying degrees due to the strong base reacting with the plant fiber. Ammoniated whey when added to the above mentioned feedstuffs likewise improves these same measures but does so in an additive manner since the ammonia level in these products is not high enough to initiate the desired reaction seen with the CaO. Therefore the rate at which the ammoniated product is added should be done so based on final desired outcome in terms of crude protein.
Male birthweight, semen quality and birth outcomes.

Study question What are the relations among birthweight (BW), semen parameters and birth outcomes in a population-based sample? Summary answer BW is unrelated to semen parameters, which are in turn unrelated to birth outcomes. What is known already In clinical settings, there has been suggestion that semen parameters are related to BW when comparing fertile and infertile men; however, findings have been less clear in more general populations. Study design, size, duration Questionnaire data and semen samples were collected at baseline from 427 male participants of the population-based Longitudinal Investigation of Fertility and the Environment (LIFE) prospective cohort study from 2005 to 2009, who were followed prospectively to assess pregnancy outcomes among 226 singleton births. Participants/materials, setting, methods Men of at least 18 years of age who were married or in a committed relationship and trying to conceive were eligible for participation; physician-diagnosed infertility was an exclusion criterion. Participants were recruited from two geographic areas and semen samples were analyzed for 34 quality parameters categorized as general, motility, morphology, sperm head and sperm chromatin structure using methods including computer-aided semen analysis integrated visual optical system and sperm chromatin structure assay. Linear and mixed models were used for statistical analysis of the relations between men's BW, semen parameters, and BW, gestational age at delivery, birth length, head circumference and ponderal index of singleton births. Main results and the role of chance No association was observed between male BW and semen parameters or birth outcomes. Few associations were observed between semen parameters and birth outcomes, and the observed statistically significant associations were isolated and without a consistent pattern that would suggest an association between BW and birth outcomes. Limitations, reasons for caution Men's BW was self-reported and may be subject to some imprecision. Semen analysis was performed the day after collection, an approach that impacts the assessment of motility and that may limit inference from our analyses of motility measures. In addition, inclusion criteria for selection into the cohort limits generalizability to generally healthy couples trying to conceive and without known subfertility. Wider implications of the findings Despite suggestions from prior studies of male in utero exposures impacting BW and male reproductive health, there appears to be little support for such relations in this generally healthy population. Study funding/competing interest(s) Supported by the Intramural Research Program of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (N01-HD-3-3355, N01-HD-3-3356 and NOH-HD-3-3358). The authors report no competing interests, and a Memo of Understanding with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for semen analysis. Trial registration number Not applicable.
A complete 4DCT-ventilation functional avoidance virtual trial: Developing strategies for prospective clinical trials.

Introduction 4DCT-ventilation is an exciting new imaging modality that uses 4DCT data to calculate lung-function maps. Because 4DCTs are acquired as standard of care for lung cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy, 4DCT-ventiltation provides functional information at no extra dosimetric or monetary cost to the patient. The development of clinical trials is underway to use 4DCT-ventilation imaging to spare functional lung in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The purpose of this work was to perform a virtual trial using retrospective data to develop the practical aspects of a 4DCT-ventilation functional avoidance clinical trial. Methods The study included 96 stage III lung cancer patients. A 4DCT-ventilation map was calculated using the patient's 4DCT-imaging, deformable registration, and a density-change-based algorithm. Clinical trial inclusion assessment used quantitative and qualitative metrics based on the patient's spatial ventilation profile. Clinical and functional plans were generated for 25 patients. The functional plan aimed to reduce dose to functional lung while meeting standard target and critical structure constraints. Standard and dose-function metrics were compared between the clinical and functional plans. Results Our data showed that 69% and 59% of stage III patients have regional variability in function based on qualitative and quantitative metrics, respectively. Functional planning demonstrated an average reduction of 2.8 Gy (maximum 8.2 Gy) in the mean dose to functional lung. Conclusions Our work demonstrated that 60–70% of stage III patients would be eligible for functional planning and that a typical functional lung mean dose reduction of 2.8 Gy can be expected relative to standard clinical plans. These findings provide salient data for the development of functional clinical trials.
The Prevalence of Rome IV Nonerosive Esophageal Phenotypes in Children.

Objectives To assess the prevalence of Rome IV nonerosive esophageal phenotypes in children using multichannel intraluminal impedance testing and to describe the rates of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) responsiveness and the frequency of microscopic esophagitis in these patients. Study design We conducted a retrospective review of all children ≥5 years of age who underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and multichannel intraluminal impedance testing off PPI therapy for evaluation of typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Only children with symptoms during the multichannel intraluminal impedance testing were included. Children were categorized into the following nonerosive esophageal phenotypes using Rome IV criteria: nonerosive reflux disease, reflux hypersensitivity, and functional heartburn. Rates of esophagitis and responsiveness to acid suppression therapy were assessed. Results Forty-five children were included: 27% were categorized as having nonerosive reflux disease, 29% with reflux hypersensitivity (27% acid and 2% nonacid), and 44% with functional heartburn. Older children reported significantly more heartburn ( P P = .047). There were no differences between groups in other reflux symptoms, rates of responsiveness to PPIs, or the presence of microscopic esophagitis on biopsy. Conclusions Functional heartburn is the most common Rome IV nonerosive esophageal phenotype in children. Neither microscopic esophagitis nor PPI responsiveness can predict phenotype in pediatric patients.
Kernel-based anatomically-aided diffuse optical tomography reconstruction

Author(s): Baikejiang, R; Zhang, W; Zhu, D; Hernandez, AM; Shakeri, SA; Wang, G; Qi, JY; Boone, JM; Li, CQ | Abstract: Image reconstruction in diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a challenging task because its inverse problem is nonlinear, ill-posed, and ill-conditioned. Anatomical guidance from imaging modalities with high spatial resolution can substantially improve the quality of reconstructed DOT images. In this paper, inspired by the kernel methods in machine learning, we proposed a kernel method to introduce anatomical guidance into the DOT image reconstruction. In this kernel method, the optical absorption coefficient at each finite element node is represented as a function of a set of features obtained from anatomical images such as computed tomography (CT) images. Compared with Laplacian approaches that include structural priors, the proposed method does not require image segmentation. The proposed kernel method is validated with numerical simulations of 3D DOT reconstruction using synthetic CT data. 5% Gaussian noise was added to both the numerical DOT measurements and the simulated CT images. The proposed method was also validated by an agar phantom experiment with the anatomical guidance from a cone beam CT scan. The effects of voxel size and number of nearest neighbors in the kernel method on the reconstructed DOT images were studied. The results indicate that the spatial resolution and the accuracy of the reconstructed DOT images have been improved substantially after applying the anatomical guidance with the proposed kernel method comparing to the case without guidance. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the kernel method was able to utilize clinical breast CT images as anatomical guidance without segmentation. In addition, we found that the proposed kernel method was robust to the false positive guidance in the anatomical image.
Simultaneous multislice magnetic resonance fingerprinting with low-rank and subspace modeling

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a new quantitative imaging paradigm that enables simultaneous acquisition of multiple magnetic resonance tissue parameters (e.g., T 1 , T 2 , and spin density). Recently, MRF has been integrated with simultaneous multislice (SMS) acquisitions to enable volumetric imaging with faster scan time. In this paper, we present a new image reconstruction method based on low-rank and subspace modeling for improved SMS-MRF. Here the low-rank model exploits strong spatiotemporal correlation among contrast-weighted images, while the subspace model captures the temporal evolution of magnetization dynamics. With the proposed model, the image reconstruction problem is formulated as a convex optimization problem, for which we develop an algorithm based on variable splitting and the alternating direction method of multipliers. The performance of the proposed method has been evaluated by numerical experiments, and the results demonstrate that the proposed method leads to improved accuracy over the conventional approach. Practically, the proposed method has a potential to allow for a 3× speedup with minimal reconstruction error, resulting in less than 5 sec imaging time per slice.
Simulation study on vibration reduction characteristics of two-degree of freedom suspension system in a quarter vehicle

In order to further improve the riding comfort of trackless rubber tire vehicle, to ensure the safety of coal mine underground transportation, a quarter vehicle of the dynamics equation was established for two-degree of freedom suspension system. And the underground road roughness value of the input signal was calculated. Then based on the Simulink module of MATLAB software, the mathematical simulation model of suspension system was built. The analysis result showed that the vibration of the wheel and the body of curve. Finally through the Simulink simulation model, the paper analyzed the suspension spring stiffness and damping coefficient change on the influence of vehicle vibration system performance indicators. Simulation results showed that when the suspension spring stiffness was 223.5kN/m, the suspension damping coefficient was 1.91 kN· s/m, the trackless rubber tire vehicle anti-vibration effect was best, and its vibration characteristic was relatively sensitive to the change of spring stiffness. The results for coal mine underground trackless rubber-tyred vehicle suspension system provides theory basis for the design and structure optimization.
Impacts of Mastication Fuel Treatments on California, USA, Chaparral Vegetation Structure and Composition

Mechanical fuel treatments are a primary pre-fire strategy for potentially mitigating the threat of wildland fire, yet there is limited information on how they impact shrubland ecosystems. Our goal was to assess the impact of mechanical mastication fuel treatments on chaparral vegetation and to determine the extent to which they emulate early post-fire succession. Mastication treatments significantly reduced the height and cover of woody vegetation and increased herbaceous cover and diversity. Non-native cover, density, and diversity were also significantly higher in masticated treatments. Comparisons with post-fire data from two studies showed that certain ephemeral post-fire endemics were absent or of limited occurrence from masticated plots in comparison to their abundance on adjacent burned plots. Structurally, masticated sites differed in the dense woody debris cover, whereas burned sites had little such ground cover. Regional comparison of masticated plots to previously published post-fire studies found that burned sites had greater cover, density, and diversity of native species. However, masticated sites and burned sites were broadly similar in distribution of different growth forms. Results from our study show that the use of mastication fuel treatments in chaparral are not in alignment with some resource conservation goals, but in some cases it is recognized that such sacrifice of natural resources may be an acceptable tradeoff to potentially mitigating fire hazard.
Influence of silane coupling agent on microstructure and properties of CCTO-P(VDF-CTFE) composites

Influence of the coupling agent on microstructure and dielectric properties of ceramic–polymer composites is systematically studied using CaCu3Ti4O12 (CCTO) as the filler, trichloro-(1H,1H,2H,2H-pe...
Antegrade pancreatoscopy via EUS-guided pancreaticogastrostomy allows removal of obstructive pancreatic duct stones.

Background and study aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an effective treatment for pancreaticolithiasis, including use of pancreatoscopy for intraductal electrohydraulic lithotripsy (IEHL). Pancreatoscopy is often limited by a small-caliber downstream pancreatic duct as well as an unstable pancreatoscope position within the pancreatic head. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreaticogastrostomy (EUS-PG) has been developed as a method to relieve ductal obstruction when retrograde access fails. The current study describes pancreatoscopy via EUS-PG, a novel method for managing obstructing pancreaticolithiasis. Patients and methods From September 2017 to January 2018, patients who underwent EUS-PG followed by antegrade pancreatoscopy via PG were identified. Endoscopy reports, medical charts and relevant laboratory data were reviewed and recorded. Results Five patients underwent EUS-PG and antegrade pancreatoscopy via PG during the study period; clinical success rate was 100 %. There were no significant adverse events during the procedure or follow up period. Conclusions Pancreatoscopy via PG for IEHL is safe and effective for treating obstructing pancreaticolithiasis in patients who have previously failed ERCP or in clinical scenarios were ERCP is not possible.
Scaling of Failure of Beams, Frames and Plates with Softening Hinges

Between 1970 and 1986, Giulio Maier published a series of pioneering papers on equilibrium path bifurcations and instabilities in beam structures failing by inelastic hinges. His analysis is now extended to the size effect. First, the dependence of the bending strength on the postpeak softening slope of an inelastic hinge on the beam depth is analyzed based on the energy principles of fracture mechanics. Since exact analytical solutions for structures with many hinges softening simultaneously are very complicated, the present study focuses on the asymptotic case of a sufficiently large structures, for which no two inelastic hinges are softening at the same time. Simple size effect trends are identified for this asymptotic case. For the opposite asymptotic case of a very small structures, classical plasticity applies. For the intermediate situations, approximate formulae of asymptotic matching type are proposed. The size effect obtained is very different from two- or three-dimensional structures failing due to propagation of one dominant crack of damage band. Sommario. Nel periodo tra il 1970 e il 1986, Giulio Maier ha pubblicato una serie di lavori pionieristici sulle biforcazioni nei percorsi di equilibrio e sui fenomeni di instabilita per sistemi di travi la cui crisi era dovuta a formazione di cerniere plastiche. I suoi studi vengono qui generalizzati ad includere effetti di scala. Dapprima si analizza, sulla base dei principi energetici della meccanica della frattura, la dipendenza della resistenza flessionale dalla pendenza del ramo “softening” successivo al picco per una cerniera plastica di trave. Dal momento che l'esatta soluzione analitica per strutture con molte cerniere plastiche contemporaneamente attive e piuttosto complicata, questo lavoro si concentra sul caso limite di strutture sufficientemente grandi in cui non piu di una cerniera si attiva ad ogni istante, che consente di identificare in modo semplice l'influenza degli effetti di scala. Nel caso limite opposto, relativo ad una struttura molto piccola, la plasticita classica rimane valida. Per situazioni intermedie si propongono formule approssimate che sfruttano i risultati precedenti. Gli effetti di scala ottenuti risultano sensibilmente diversi da quelli relativi a strutture bi-o tri-dimensionali che collassano per la propagazione di una frattura dominante in una banda di danneggiamento.
Reply to Leif Wenar

Explains how a contractualist moral theory can explain the moral phenomena commonly called rights, although it does not appeal to the notion of a right as a basic element of moral thinking, or explain the difference between rights violations and wrongs of other kinds. Argues that the latter failure is not an important fault.
Ultra-compact 90° bends and MMI couplers in silicon-on-insulator

There has recently been a surge of interest in thin SOI-based integrated optics, where the silicon guiding layer is less than a micrometer thick.1,2
Thermistor-controlled subdermal skin tightening for the aging face: Clinical outcomes and efficacy.

Objective Patients are increasingly seeking nonsurgical treatment for the aging face. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and outcomes of a thermistor-controlled subdermal skin tightening device (ThermiTight) as a treatment modality for the aging face. Methods A retrospective analysis of 12 patients was completed on patients having undergone ThermiTight for midface and neck skin tightening. Only five patients had a greater than 1 year follow-up and were included in the study. Two blinded reviewers assessed photographs taken pre-procedure and 1 year post-procedure using a standardized skin laxity scale. Patient charts were reviewed to assess for complications up to 12 months post-treatment. Results The mean age of included patients was 57 years, and all five patients were female. One (20%) patient treated with ThermiTight was also treated with injectables (Botox, Juvederm) simultaneously. One (20%) patient developed a wound complication. One (20%) patient complained of incisional site pain at her first postoperative visit that subsequently self-resolved. On a five-point scale to assess facial skin laxity, there was an average improved score of 0.85 per patient (P < .001) at one year post-procedure. Two blinded reviewers correctly categorized photographs as either being "baseline" or "post-procedure" 100% of the time. There was no significant difference between the skin laxity scores by the blinded reviewers (P = .05). Conclusion ThermiTight is a new technology used for nonsurgical treatment of the aging face. Long-term outcomes demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Complications are rare, but possible, in the use of ThermiTight. Level of Evidence: 3.
Percutaneous pericardial access for electrophysiological studies in patients with prior cardiac surgery: approach and understanding the risks.

Introduction: The number of procedures for which percutaneous pericardial access is used for has gradually increased since its initial description, and now includes mapping/ablation, atrial appenda...
Review of the 1993 dental materials literature

Abstract Objectives . Electronic databases are not sufficiently up to date to provide comprehensive notation of the most recent literature for reference in developing scientificpapers. The objective of this summary was to identify and categonize the 1993 dental materials scientific literature that dealt with restorative dentistry. Methods . 17 primary journals were manually searched via the tables of contents, and 101 secondary journals were manually or electronically searched. Dental materials citations were categorized into 15 major sections and several subsections, excluding case reports and all the literature primarily related to dental implants or biomedical materials outside of dentistry. Results . This study identified 786 citations, the largest number being associated with glass ionomers and composites. Significance . This citation list provides a comprehensive source for review by academicians and researchers that bridges the gap between initial publication and electronic citation.
Social enterprise factory location and allocation model: Small scale manufacturing for East Africa

Abstract The manufacturing location decision for social enterprises that work in the context of sustainable development is rarely based on a quantitative, analytical process. As a result, decisions may be far from profit-maximizing. Location and allocation optimization models have the potential to improve decisions and thus enable such enterprises to scale up their business as well as their impact. We develop and explain a single-period single-factory model, and also a two-echelon location and allocation model, to provide enterprises with information about optimal factory locations, and with future demand allocations and capacity-changing decision information. We apply the models to a company that manufactures and distributes solar cookers in East Africa. Our results illustrate that quantitative location and allocation models can significantly affect social enterprises by improving profitability. The case study shows strong cost-reduction potential of local manufacturing in developing countries due to high transportation costs for small production volumes. We discuss this model-recommended decision by weighing it against associated opportunities and risks. This paper aims to enable and encourage social and sustainability-oriented manufacturing enterprises to apply operations research methods in their strategic factory location decision-making.
Use of a novel bipolar sealer device in pocket infections: A case series

BACKGROUND Cardiac implantable electronic device pocket infections require complete system removal. However, postoperative bleeding and hematoma can occur after extensive debridement and an optimal management strategy has yet to be defined. METHODS Following system removal and debridement, all pockets were treated with the Aquamantys bipolar sealer until hemostasis of the underlying tissue was achieved. Clinical characteristics, sealer application time, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS Thirteen consecutive patients were included with an average age of 61.6 years and 8/13 were male. One patient had both pocket infection and systemic bacteremia. Explanted devices included three pacemakers, nine transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), and one subcutaneous ICD. The average number of leads extracted was 2.08 ± 1.04 with a median lead dwell time of 75 months (range, 1-265). Pocket tissue culture yielded Streptococcus anginosus (1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2), Staphylococcus epidermidis (1), Staphylococcus aureus (1), and no growth (8). Average time using the Aquamantys was 5.6 ± 2.75 minutes per patient. Twelve out of thirteen pockets were closed by primary intention with one pocket packed and left to heal via secondary intention. A Jackson-Pratt drain was used in three patients and removed within 3 days. There were no hematomas noted during the acute hospitalization or during follow up and all of the wounds healed completely. CONCLUSIONS Use of a novel bipolar sealing device in lieu of traditional electrocautery provided rapid and durable hemostasis with the ability to close almost all of the pockets via primary intention.
Minimally Invasive Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy with Linear Stapled Anastomosis Associated with Low Leak and Stricture Rates

Minimally invasive foregut surgery is increasingly performed for both benign and malignant diseases. We present a retrospective series of patients who underwent minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy (MIE) with linear stapled anastomosis performed at two centers in the USA, with a focus on evaluating leak and stricture rates. Patients treated from 2007 to 2018 were included, and data on demographics, oncologic treatment, pathology, and outcomes were analyzed. The surgical technique utilized laparoscopic and thoracoscopic access, with an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis using a 6-cm linear stapled side-to-side technique. A total of 124 patients were included and 114 resections (91.9%) were completed in a minimally invasive fashion with a 6-cm linear stapled side-to-side anastomosis. Patients were predominantly male (90.7%) with a median age of 66.0 years and body mass index of 28.8 kg/m2. Of 121 patients with malignancy, negative margins were obtained in 94.3% and median lymph node yield was 15 (IQR 12–22). In the intention to treat analysis, median operative time was 463 min (IQR 403–515), blood loss was 150 mL (IQR 100–200), and length of stay was 8 days (IQR 7–11). Postoperative complications were experienced by 64 patients (51.6%) including respiratory failure in 14 (11.3%) and pneumonia in 12 (9.7%). In patients who successfully underwent a 6-cm stapled side-to-side anastomosis, anastomotic leaks occurred in 6 patients (5.1%) without need for operative intervention, and anastomotic strictures occurred in 6 patients (5.1%) requiring endoscopic management. Ivor Lewis MIE with a 6-cm linear stapled anastomosis can be completed with a high technical success rate, and low rates of anastomotic leak and stricture.
Observation of Phonon Propagation in Germanium Nanowires Using Femtosecond Pump–Probe Microscopy

The excited-state dynamics in individual Ge nanowires (NWs) are imaged using ultrafast pump–probe microscopy with high spatial (∼600 nm) and temporal (∼500 fs) resolution. Photoexcitation of the NW...
Retrograde Instrumentation of Surgically Resected Roots Using Controlled Memory Files: A Human Cadaver Study

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study is to evaluate the amount of residual obturation material of retroinstrumented surgically resected roots using controlled memory files and to evaluate the incidence of adverse treatment outcomes. Methods Thirty maxillary anterior teeth in human cadavers were selected, and nonsurgical root canal treatment was performed on these teeth. A standardized 4-mm osteotomy and a 3-mm root resection with as close to 0° bevel as possible were made on each tooth. A microsurgical diamond tip was used to create a 1- to 2-mm starting point for each retropreparation. A 25/06 and 30/06 VTaper 2H were bent at about 90° angle to mimic the clinical and anatomic restrictions and used to create a retropreparation to a depth of 14 mm. Micro–computed tomography scans were taken and analyzed for volume and percentage of residual obturation material at 5 and 10 mm. In addition, the incidences of instrument separation and crack and ledge formation in the teeth were recorded. Results The median volume of residual obturation at 5 and 10 mm was 0.18 mm3 (interquartile range, 0.36 mm3) and 1.97 mm3 (interquartile range, 1.99 mm3), respectively. The overall incidence of file separation during retropreparation was 13.33% (4/30). Among the cases analyzed with micro–computed tomography, none showed crack or ledge formation. Conclusions Retroinstrumentation of surgically resected roots using controlled memory files cleans the canal effectively with relatively low adverse treatment outcomes. Although this novel technique is limited in application, it is a safe and effective way to achieve a deep, clean retropreparation.
Children, Income, and the Impact of Home Delivery on Household Shopping Trips

Expanding e-commerce and delivery benefit consumers through increased flexibility and convenience. However, there is a potential impact on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by delivery and personal vehi...
Online battery scheduling for grid-connected photo-voltaic systems

Abstract We study the problem of determining optimum policy for managing battery energy storage system (BESS) in grid-connected photo-voltaic (PV) systems, where the stochastic electricity demands from the load are met from three sources: grid, PV energy, and BESS. BESS is used either to store excess energy generated from PV systems for later use, or to purchase energy from the grid when the time-of-use (TOU) pricing is lower. The objective is to identify the optimum charging/discharging schedule of BESS so that the long-term cost of energy purchased from the grid is minimized. The stochastic variabilities in loads and PV energy are captured by employing probabilistic models of periodic stochastic process with parameters estimated using historical data. The optimization problem is formulated under the framework of periodic discounted Markov decision process (MDP), and the problem formulation includes the aging effects of batteries and solar panels. The online optimization problem is solved by adopting a policy iteration approach tailored for periodic MDP. The proposed online scheduling algorithm provides periodic policies for a period of 24-hour, where the system model is updated every day based on load and PV energy from the previous day in a rolling horizon fashion. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve a 41.6% reduction in annual utility bills compared to conventional systems without PV and BESS, thus ascertaining the values of installing BESS and PV systems.
The Relative Expression of ERα Isoforms ERα66 and ERα36 Controls the Cellular Response to 24R,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Breast Cancer.

Vitamin D3 and its metabolites have antitumorigenic properties in vitro and in vivo; however, clinical trials and retrospective studies on the effectiveness of vitamin D3 oral supplementation against cancer have been inconclusive. One reason for this may be that clinical trials ignore the complex vitamin D metabolome and the many active vitamin D3 metabolites present in the body. Recent work by our lab showed that 24R,25(OH)2D3, a vitamin D3 metabolite that is active in chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, has antitumorigenic properties in estrogen receptor alpha-66 (ERα66)–positive (ER+) breast cancer, but not in ERα66-negative (ER−) breast cancer. Here we show that 24R,25(OH)2D3 is protumorigenic in an in vivo mouse model (NOD.Cg-PrkdcscidIl2rgtm1Wjl/SzJ (NSG) mice) of ER− breast cancer, causing greater tumor growth than in mice treated with vehicle alone. In vitro results indicate that the effect of 24R,25(OH)2D3 is via a membrane-associated mechanism involving ERs and phospholipase D. 24R,25(OH)2D3 increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis in ERα66-negative HCC38 breast cancer cells, and stimulated expression of metastatic markers. Overexpressing ESRI, which encodes ERα66, ERα46, and ERα36, reduced the proapoptotic response of ERα66− cells to 24R,25(OH)2D3, possibly by upregulating ERα66. Silencing ESR1 in ERα66+ cells increased apoptosis. This suggests 24R,25(OH)2D3 is differentially tumorigenic in cancers with different ERα isoform profiles. Antiapoptotic actions of 24R,25(OH)2D3 require ERα36 and proapoptotic actions require ERα66. Implications: These results suggest that 24R,25(OH)2D3, which is a major circulating metabolite of vitamin D, is functionally active in breast cancer and that the regulatory properties of 24R,25(OH)2D3 are dependent upon the relative expression of ERα66 and ERα36.
The Influence of Patient-Provider Language Concordance in Cancer Care: Results of the Hispanic Outcomes by Language Approach (HOLA) Randomized Trial.

Purpose Delivering linguistically competent care is critical to serving patients who have limited English proficiency (LEP) and represents a key national strategy to help reduce health disparities. Current acceptable standards of communication with patients who have LEP include providers communicating through professional interpretive services or bilingual providers speaking the patients’ preferred language directly. This randomized clinical trial tests the effect of patient-provider language concordance on patient satisfaction. Methods and Materials Eighty-three adult Spanish-speaking patients with cancer were randomly assigned to receive care from either (1) 1 of 2 bilingual physicians speaking to the patient directly in Spanish or (2) the same physicians speaking English and using a professional interpreter service. Validated questionnaires were administered to assess patient-reported satisfaction with both provider communication and overall care. Transcripts of initial consultations were analyzed for content variations. Results Compared with patients receiving care through professional interpretive services, patients cared for in direct Spanish reported significantly improved general satisfaction, technical quality of care (mean composite score [MCS], 4.41 vs 4.06; P = .005), care team interpersonal manner (MCS, 4.37 vs 3.88; P = .004), communication (MCS, 4.50 vs 4.25; P = .018), and time spent with patient,(MCS, 4.30 vs 3.92; P = .028). Specific to physician communication, patients rated direct-Spanish care more highly in perceived opportunity to disclose concerns (MCS 4.91 vs 4.62; P = .001), physician empathy (MCS, 4.94 vs 4.59; P Conclusions This study shows improved patient-reported satisfaction among patients with cancer who had LEP and were cared for in direct Spanish compared with interpreter-based communication. Further research into interventions to mitigate the patient-provider language barrier is necessary to optimize care for this population.
Antisense technology: an overview and prospectus

Antisense technology is now beginning to deliver on its promise to treat diseases by targeting RNA. Nine single-stranded antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs representing four chemical classes, two mechanisms of action and four routes of administration have been approved for commercial use, including the first RNA-targeted drug to be a major commercial success, nusinersen. Although all the approved drugs are for use in patients with rare diseases, many of the ASOs in late- and middle-stage clinical development are intended to treat patients with very common diseases. ASOs in development are showing substantial improvements in potency and performance based on advances in medicinal chemistry, understanding of molecular mechanisms and targeted delivery. Moreover, the ASOs in development include additional mechanisms of action and routes of administration such as aerosol and oral formulations. Here, we describe the key technological advances that have enabled this progress and discuss recent clinical trials that illustrate the impact of these advances on the performance of ASOs in a wide range of therapeutic applications. We also consider strategic issues such as target selection and provide perspectives on the future of the field.
Digital image processing to detect subtle motion in stony coral

Coral reef ecosystems support significant biological activities and harbor huge diversity, but they are facing a severe crisis driven by anthropogenic activities and climate change. An important behavioral trait of the coral holobiont is coral motion, which may play an essential role in feeding, competition, reproduction, and thus survival and fitness. Therefore, characterizing coral behavior through motion analysis will aid our understanding of basic biological and physical coral functions. However, tissue motion in the stony scleractinian corals that contribute most to coral reef construction are subtle and may be imperceptible to both the human eye and commonly used imaging techniques. Here we propose and apply a systematic approach to quantify and visualize subtle coral motion across a series of light and dark cycles in the scleractinian coral Montipora capricornis. We use digital image correlation and optical flow techniques to quantify and characterize minute coral motions under different light conditions. In addition, as a visualization tool, motion magnification algorithm magnifies coral motions in different frequencies, which explicitly displays the distinctive dynamic modes of coral movement. Specifically, our assessment of displacement, strain, optical flow, and mode shape quantify coral motion under different light conditions, and they all show that M. capricornis exhibits more active motions at night compared to day. Our approach provides an unprecedented insight into micro-scale coral movement and behavior through macro-scale digital imaging, thus offering a useful empirical toolset for the coral research community.
The brief sense of community scale: Testing dimensionality and measurement invariance by gender among Hispanic/Latinx youth.

Psychological sense of community is defined as feelings of belongingness and a shared belief that community members will meet one another's needs. Psychological sense of community has four dimensions: membership, influence, needs fulfillment, and emotional connection. In this study, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the first and second-order factor structure of the brief sense of community scale (BSCS) between male and female Hispanic/Latinx adolescents from an urban community (N = 947). To help validate the BSCS model, the second-order factor model was tested with regression to predict the measures of intrapersonal psychological empowerment and ethnic identity, as constructs conceptually related to psychological sense of community. Findings support that: (1) psychological sense of community can be measured through the BSCS and as a four-factor model among Hispanic/Latinx youth, supporting McMillan and Chavis's (1986) original theoretical discussions; (2) while no differences between genders were present at the model-level, there was path-specific variation; and (3) intrapersonal psychological empowerment and ethnic identity were associated with psychological sense of community.
This Little Light of Mine: Electricity Access Mapping Using Night-time Light Data

The tracking of electricity infrastructure locations is crucial to making informed decisions on grid expansion and energy supply alternatives. However, in developing settings, these tasks are limited by technical and budget capacity constraints where the most recent data on the locations of low- and medium-voltage grids is outdated or even unknown. Currently, utilities in high-income economies monitor these lines using sophisticated sensing devices, airborne laser scanning, and field surveys which are unaffordable in emerging economies. In this work we aim to improve upon an existing open-source electricity mapping tool that uses night-time light data as the main proxy of electrification. Using ground-truth data from Kenya, we validate the performance of the existing tool and proposed a learning model to improve the detection of electrified sites. Our results show that our learning model is able to correctly identify a78% of those places which had electricity but were not identified before and improve the detection accuracy by up to a7%. Moreover, we show that using daily composites of nighttime data combined with other open-source data sources significantly helps the generation of accurate electricity access maps.