cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Collision‐induced decomposition of sphingomyelins for structural elucidation

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) and collision-induced decomposition (CID) are used to determine the structures of sphingomyelins. CID of [M + H]+ ions; [M + Cat]+ ions, in which Cat = Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ or Cs+; and [M – 15]−, [M – 60]−, and [M – 86]− ions are investigated. CID of the anions reveals fragmentations that allow simultaneous characterization of both the ceramide and the phosphorylcholine portions of sphingomyelins. Consequently, information regarding the lengths of the sphingoid base and fatty acyl chain, and the locations of double bonds on the fatty acyl chain can be directly obtained. Structures of individual components of complex mixtures can also be determined without prior chemical derivatization or gas chromatographic separation. The detection limits for obtaining acceptable FAB and CID spectra of the [M – 15]− ions of N-oleoyl-(4E)-sphingenine phosphorylcholine are 4 and 30 pmol, respectively.
Terahertz packaging: Study of substrates for novel component designs

This paper will examine a new side to packaging: Terahertz (THz) Packaging. The goal of this paper is three fold: 1) characterizing dielectric materials for THz packaging applications; 2) Using these materials in the fabrication of THz passives (integrated and quasi-optical); and 3) Demonstrating non-destructive evaluation of packages using THz. In this manuscript, detailed characteristics of dielectric packaging materials in the THz spectral region are presented along with the theory used for the characterization procedure. THz non destructive evaluation (NDE) of electronics packages is observed in the form of delamination thickness detection and moisture content studies. Using the materials characterized, a planar THz power splitter and a quasi-optical THz bandstop interference filter are demonstrated. Furthermore, the power splitter is used as a THz microfluidic sensor.
Secret Sharing in the Encrypted Domain

Secret sharing refers to dividing a secret into pieces or shares and allocating the shares among a group of participants. The secret can be reconstructed only when a sufficient number of shares are combined. To protect each share during secret reconstruction, it is desirable to reconstruct the secret directly from the encrypted shares. Secure signal processing is typically based on probabilistic and homomorphic encryption in public key cryptosystem. Based on related works, a composite method using binary representation and precomputation is implemented for efficient exponentiation of encrypted signals. A new scheme of secret sharing in the encrypted domain that makes use of the efficient exponentiation method is presented. Experimental results validate the suitability of the proposed method.
Using Improved Background-Error Covariances from an Ensemble Kalman Filter for Adaptive Observations

A method for determining adaptive observation locations is demonstrated. This method is based on optimal estimation (Kalman filter) theory; it determines the observation location that will maximize the expected improvement, which can be measured in terms of the expected reduction in analysis or forecast variance. This technique requires an accurate model for background error statistics that vary both in space and in time. Here, these covariances are generated using an ensemble Kalman filter assimilation scheme. A variant is also developed that can estimate the analysis improvement in data assimilation schemes where background error statistics are less accurate. This approach is demonstrated using a quasigeostrophic channel model under perfect-model assumptions. The algorithm is applied here to find the supplemental rawinsonde location to add to a regular network of rawinsondes that will reduce analysis errors the most. The observation network is configured in this experiment so there is a data void in the western third of the domain. One-hundred-member ensembles from three data assimilation schemes are tested as input to the target selection procedure, two variants of the standard ensemble Kalman filter and a third perturbed observation (3DVAR) ensemble. The algorithm is shown to find large differences in the expected variance reduction depending on the observation location, the flow of the day, and the ensemble used in the adaptive observation algorithm. When using the two variants of the ensemble Kalman filter, the algorithm defined consistently similar adaptive locations to each other, and assimilation of the adaptive observation typically reduced analysis errors significantly. When the 3DVAR ensemble was used, the algorithm picked very different observation locations and the analyses were not improved as much. The amount of improvement from assimilating a supplemental adaptive observation instead of a fixed observation in the middle of the void depended on whether the observation was assimilated sporadically or during every analysis cycle. For sporadic assimilation, the adaptive observation provided a dramatic improvement relative to the supplemental fixed observation. When an adaptive observation was regularly assimilated every cycle, the improvement was smaller. For the sporadic assimilation of an adaptive observation, targeting based simply on the maximum spread in background forecasts provided similar target locations and similar analysis improvements to those generated with the full algorithm. The improvement from the regular assimilation of an adaptive observation based on the spread algorithm was no larger than when observations from a fixed target in the middle of the void were regularly assimilated.
Efficient File Sharing by Multicast - P2P Protocol using Network Coding and Rank Based Peer Selection

In this work, we consider information dissemination and sharing in a distributed peer-to-peer (P2P highly dynamic communication network. In particular, we explore a network coding technique for transmission and a rank based peer selection method for network formation. The combined approach has been shown to improve information sharing and delivery to all users when considering the challenges imposed by the space network environments.
Mechanisms for synoptic variations of atmospheric CO 2 in North America, South America and Europe

Synoptic variations of atmospheric CO 2 produced by interactions between weather and surface fluxes are investigated mechanistically and quantitatively in midlatitude and tropical regions using continuous in-situ CO 2 observations in North America, South America and Europe and forward chemical transport model simulations with the Parameterized Chemistry Transport Model. Frontal CO 2 climatologies show consistently strong, characteristic frontal CO 2 signals throughout the midlatitudes of North America and Europe. Transitions between synoptically identifiable CO 2 air masses or transient spikes along the frontal boundary typically characterize these signals. One case study of a summer cold front shows CO 2 gradients organizing with deformational flow along weather fronts, producing strong and spatially coherent variations. In order to differentiate physical and biological controls on synoptic variations in midlatitudes and a site in Amazonia, a boundary layer budget equation is constructed to break down boundary layer CO 2 tendencies into components driven by advection, moist convection, and surface fluxes. This analysis suggests that, in midlatitudes, advection is dominant throughout the year and responsible for 60–70% of day-to-day variations on average, with moist convection contributing less than 5%. At a site in Amazonia, vertical mixing, in particular coupling between convective transport and surface CO 2 flux, is most important, with advection responsible for 26% of variations, moist convection 32% and surface flux 42%. Transport model sensitivity experiments agree with budget analysis. These results imply the existence of a recharge-discharge mechanism in Amazonia important for controlling synoptic variations of boundary layer CO 2 , and that forward and inverse simulations should take care to represent moist convective transport. Due to the scarcity of tropical observations at the time of this study, results in Amazonia are not generalized for the tropics, and future work should extend analysis to additional tropical locations.
Analog combining of multiple receive antennas with OFDM

Optimal signal processing of M receiver antennas requires digitization of each of the M RF signals. For example, MRC (maximal ratio combining) of M receiver antennas requires M ADCs (analog to digital converters). Since the ADC is a highly power-consumptive component in current receiver chain architectures, we investigate suboptimal signal processing schemes that combine M analog signals before digitization, thus enabling a much cheaper implementation with a single ADC. We focus on IEEE 802.11a like OFDM LAN systems with one transmit and multiple receiver antennas (SIMO - single input multiple output), with perfect channel knowledge at the receiver. Our scheme uses scalar weights to combine the receiver antennas in the time-domain. These weights are a function of the spatio-temporal channel matrix. The results are very promising: 4-antenna linear combining (LC) outperforms 2-antenna selection diversity by 5-7 dB at an uncoded BER of 0.01, and this margin is even wider at lower BERs.
Increasing illness severity in very low birth weight infants over a 9-year period.

Recent reports have documented a leveling-off of survival rates in preterm infants through the 1990's. The objective of this study was to determine temporal changes in illness severity in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in relationship to the outcomes of death and/or severe IVH. Cohort study of 1414 VLBW infants cared for in a single level III neonatal intensive care unit in Delaware from 1993–2002. Infants were divided into consecutive 3-year cohorts. Illness severity was measured by two objective methods: the Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology (SNAP), based on data from the 1st day of life, and total thyroxine (T4), measured on the 5th day of life. Death before hospital discharge and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) were investigated in the study sample in relation to illness severity. The fetal death rate was also investigated. Statistical analyses included both univariate and multivariate analysis. Illness severity, as measured by SNAP and T4, increased steadily over the 9-year study period with an associated increase in severe IVH and the combined outcome of death and/or severe IVH. During the final 3 years of the study, the observed increase in illness severity accounted for 86% (95% CI 57–116%) of the variability in the increase in death and/or severe IVH. The fetal death rate dropped from 7.8/1000 (1993–1996) to 5.3/1000 (1999–2002, p = .01) over the course of the study. These data demonstrate a progressive increase in illness in VLBW infants over time, associated with an increase in death and/or severe IVH. We speculate that the observed decrease in fetal death, and the increase in neonatal illness, mortality and/or severe IVH over time represent a shift of severely compromised patients that now survive the fetal time period and are presented for care in the neonatal unit.
Photochromatic Intervals as a Function of Retinal Eccentricity for Stimuli of Different Size

Absolute light and color thresholds for broad-band stimuli were determined between 0° and 15° using test fields from 7′ to 104′ in diameter. Photochromatic intervals increase with retinal eccentricity. In the fovea, they are greatest for short wavelengths, followed by medium, and then by long wavelengths; in the periphery, the order for short and medium wavelengths is reversed. Toward the peripheral retina, interval size for short and medium wavelengths increases at a negative rate and for long wavelengths at a positive rate. Photochromatic intervals vary with stimulus size. The two variables change in the same direction for short wavelengths and in opposite directions for medium wavelengths. No correlation is found for long wavelengths.
Integrated spectral-polarization imaging sensor with aluminum nanowire polarization filters

Current division-of-focal-plane polarization imaging sensors can perceive intensity and polarization in real time with high spatial resolution, but are oblivious to spectral information. We present the design of such a sensor, which is also spectrally selective in the visible regime. We describe its extensive spectral and polarimetric characterization. The sensor has a pixel pitch of 5 µm and an imaging array of 168 by 256 elements. Each element comprises spectrally sensitive vertically stacked photodetectors integrated with a 140 nm pitch nanowire linear polarizer. The sensor has a maximum measured SNR of 45 dB, extinction ratio of ~3.5, QE of 12%, and linearity error of 1% in the green channel. We present sample spectral-polarization images.
Two-dimensional depth-averaged model simulation of suspended sediment concentration distribution in a groyne field

Summary River-training structures, such as spur dikes, are effective engineered methods used to protect banks and improve aquatic habitat. This paper reports the development and application of a two-dimensional depth-averaged hydrodynamic model to simulate suspended sediment concentration distribution in a groyne field. The governing equations of flow hydrodynamic model are depth-averaged two-dimensional Reynold’s averaged momentum equations and continuity equation in which the density of sediment laden-flow varies with the concentration of suspended sediment. The depth-averaged two-dimensional convection and diffusion equation was solved to obtain the depth-averaged suspended sediment concentration. The source term is the difference between suspended sediment entrainment and deposition from bed surface. One laboratory experiment was chosen to verify the simulated flow field around a groyne, and the other to verify the suspended sediment concentration distribution in a meandering channel. Then, the model utility was demonstrated in a field case study focusing on the confluence of the Kankakee and Iroquois Rivers in Illinois, United States, to simulate the distribution of suspended sediment concentration around spur dikes. Results demonstrated that the depth-averaged, two-dimensional model can approximately simulate the flow hydrodynamic field and concentration of suspended sediment. Spur dikes can be used to effectively relocate suspended sediment in alluvial channels.
The Distribution of Congestion on a Class of Stochastic Kinematic Wave Models

This paper shows that a wide range of stochastic extensions of the kinematic wave model tend to the same parameter-free expression for the probability of congestion at a given time-space point. This is shown for white noise initial density with deterministic and stochastic fundamental diagram in the case of Riemann problems and the bottleneck problem. It is also found that the stochastic solution i preserves the structure of the deterministic solution and ii tends to the deterministic solution with time at a given location.
Application of High Resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy to Elastomers in Solution

Abstract Use of high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance for polymer studies started late in 1950. The pioneer article of Bovey, Tiers, and Filipovich called attention to the potential of high resolution NMR for studies of polymer chain configurations. Since then, extensive use has been reported of high resolution NMR for various problems involving polymer structures. This review was originally intended to cover only studies dealing with rubber or elastomers. As the work proceeded, it became more obvious that the division of elastomers and non-elastomers appeared invisible so far as polymers in solution are concerned. Thus, it seems more appropriate to treat the subject in terms of polymers in general rather than limiting it only to elastomers. The review includes four main parts: namely, tacticity of polymer chain, orientation variation, or head-to-head or head-to-tail type variation of polymer chain, chain sequence distributions, and analytical measurements of structure and ratio of monomer units in p...
ReCAP: Hospitalizations in Older Adults With Advanced Cancer: The Role of Chemotherapy.

CONTEXT AND QUESTION ASKED:In patients with metastatic cancer, chemotherapy may provide symptom control, prevent complications, prolong life, or improve quality of life. Except in rare cases, however, patients with metastatic disease will not be cured. In older patients with metastatic cancer, hospitalization for treatment toxicity may reduce the quality of an already limited life expectancy. We evaluated the association between chemotherapy for metastatic cancer and risk of hospitalization.MAIN CONCLUSION:Hospitalizations are common in patients with incurable advanced malignancies and are more likely among those who receive chemotherapy.APPROACH:In the linked SEER-Medicare dataset, we identified Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 years or older with a primary diagnosis of metastatic breast, colorectal, ovarian, bladder, lung, pancreas, esophageal, stomach, or prostate cancer between 2001 and 2009 who died by the end of 2010. Chemotherapy recipients and nonrecipients were pair-matched by age, sex, race, comor...
Miracidial penetration inFascioloides magna (Trematoda)

The penetration of the miracidium ofFascioloides magna into the snail hostFossaria bulimoides is followed by examining the process at certain, timed intervals during the course of penetration. The cilia are lost early, but the epithelial cells may detach or they may be carried into the snail body. The apical gland releases vesicles which lose their outer coat in the snail tissue; similarly the vesiculated gland cells release vesicles which lose their coating in the snail tissue where there is a concomitant destruction of snail collagen fibers. Evidence is presented to support the concept of both a mechanical and an enzymatic penetration of snail tissues. Both transmission and scanning electron micrographs are used.
Genetic Optimization of Fuzzy Logic Control for Coupled Dynamic Systems

This research project, in the field of control systems, was funded by the National Science Foundation through the Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) students. The objective of this project was to combine the robustness of fuzzy logic control with the adaptability of genetic algorithms to produce a self-optimizing oscillation damping control mechanism. Once an initial fuzzy inference system (FIS) is developed by an expert for a given dynamic system, the genetic algorithm will be able to optimize the FIS for a range of similar systems with varying parameters. In order to evaluate the control mechanisms developed during this project, a simulation of a twocart spring-mass system was developed in MATLAB. The performance of the controllers was determined by how quickly it could approach a wall and how close it was able to settle the car system to the wall without crashing. The membership functions of the FIS were reduced to an array of realvalued parameters in order to be used in a genetic algorithm. Once the genetic representation of the FIS was defined, the selection, reproduction, and mutation methods were developed to complete the genetic algorithm. The best solution developed by the genetic algorithm was evaluated against the hand-tuned solution developed in a previous phase of the project. In order to simulate varying parameters between similar dynamic systems, the mass of the car system in the simulation was varied from 3 kg to 20 kg. For each weight change the genetic algorithm was allowed to re-optimize the parameters of the FIS. The performance of the genetic algorithm, with respect to the theoretical best, varied up to 3 %, while the unmodified FIS ∗Senior, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computing Systems †Sophomore, Department of Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics ‡Associate Professor, Department of Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics
Learning-as-testing: A Heideggerian hermeneutical analysis of the lived experiences of students and teachers in nursing

The Curriculum Revolution, a major call for reform, is underway in nursing education. To shape future research and to develop and test altemative approaches it is imperative to understand and critique current practices in nursing education. This article serves a dual purpose. It presents an interpre
Probe Oscillation Shear Elastography (PROSE): A High Frame-Rate Method for Two-Dimensional Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography

Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) utilizes the propagation of induced shear waves to characterize the shear modulus of soft tissue. Many methods rely on an acoustic radiation force (ARF) “push beam” to generate shear waves. However, specialized hardware is required to generate the push beams, and the thermal stress that is placed upon the ultrasound system, transducer, and tissue by the push beams currently limits the frame-rate to about 1 Hz. These constraints have limited the implementation of ARF to high-end clinical systems. This paper presents Probe Oscillation Shear Elastography (PROSE) as an alternative method to measure tissue elasticity. PROSE generates shear waves using a harmonic mechanical vibration of an ultrasound transducer, while simultaneously detecting motion with the same transducer under pulse-echo mode. Motion of the transducer during detection produces a “strain-like” compression artifact that is coupled with the observed shear waves. A novel symmetric sampling scheme is proposed such that pulse-echo detection events are acquired when the ultrasound transducer returns to the same physical position, allowing the shear waves to be decoupled from the compression artifact. Full field-of-view (FOV) two-dimensional (2D) shear wave speed images were obtained by applying a local frequency estimation (LFE) technique, capable of generating a 2D map from a single frame of shear wave motion. The shear wave imaging frame rate of PROSE is comparable to the vibration frequency, which can be an order of magnitude higher than ARF based techniques. PROSE was able to produce smooth and accurate shear wave images from three homogeneous phantoms with different moduli, with an effective frame rate of 300 Hz. An inclusion phantom study showed that increased vibration frequencies improved the accuracy of inclusion imaging, and allowed targets as small as 6.5 mm to be resolved with good contrast (contrast-to-noise ratio $\geq 19~{\rm dB}$ ) between the target and background.
Management of upper ureteral calculi with a combination pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotrite

[Objective] To investigate the clinical efficacy of a combination pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotrite on the treatment of upper ureteral calculi. [Methods] From Jan 2004 to Dec 2005, a total of 112 patients were diagnosed as upper ureteral calculi, the length of stone varied from 1.4~1.9 cm, the width was 0.7~1.0 cm, 73 cases had moderate to heavy hydrocalycosis. 29 cases were treated with ESWL before. Using a combination pneumatic and ultrasonic lithotrite, all patients received transurethral ureteroscopic lithotripsy(URSL), fellow -up was made postoperation and stone- free rate was recorded. [Results] In this group, satisfactory result were obtained in 101cases, while 11 cases failed and need additional treatment. 3 cases failed due to the bend of the ureter below the stone and managed by PCNL, 7cases received ESWL owing to the residue of large stone, 1 case had complication of ureteral perforation and need open operation. [Conclusion] The combination pneumatic and ultrasonic device appears to be efficacious and safe for disintegrating and removing upper ureteral calculi, especially for stones which relative small or have some distance away from ureteropelvic junction.
General principles and approaches to wound prevention and care at end of life: an overview .

﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿The incidence and prevalence of wounds in persons at the end of life is largely unknown, but wounds are estimated to occur in at least one third of hospice patients. At the end of life, healthcare professionals must help the patient and/ or family decide whether the goals of wound prevention and care should focus on healing or palliation. At all times, it is important to consider that a palliative approach does not negate the potential for wound improvement or even closing before death. A review of the literature suggests that, in general, few differences exist between the general principles of wound prevention and care and an optimal palliative care plan. For example, maintenance of a moist wound environment is recommended to facilitate healing in general protocols of care. In end-of-life patients, dressings should be used for general comfort and prevention of skin exposure to wound exudate and to reduce the number of potentially painful dressing changes. Risk factors for tissue breakdown and pressure ulcer development are also similar. Palliative care patients with limited mobility and physical activity are at highest risk for developing pressure ulcers, but measures to help prevent these wounds may have to be adjusted to meet the overall goals of palliative care for a particular patient. Wounds encountered mainly in cancer patients - eg, fungating and radiation wounds - can pose important challenges for healthcare professionals and are very stressful for the patient. Pressure ulcers, fungating, and radiation wounds at the end of life are to be managed palliatively with the overall goal to minimize pain and odor, enhance comfort, and potentially improve the condition of the ulcer. Although research remains limited, it is clear the clinician and patient must balance best wound prevention and management practices while promoting patient dignity, self-esteem, and quality of life.
Of Wonder: Thomas Hobbes’s Political Appropriation of Thaumazein

This essay presents a reading of the use of wonder in the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. In this essay, I argue that not only did Hobbes incorporate the ancient conception of wonder into his design for the emotional apparatus of the modern sovereign state, but that when he did so he also transformed it and other concepts. Previous scholars have paid close attention to Hobbes’s confrontation with ancient philosophy, but there has been no sustained study of Hobbes’s use of wonder, which was a concern of his over the entire course of his authorship. More broadly, this study opens up a place for the study of wonder in contemporary political theory as part of the broader reassessment of emotion.
UCI staged Z-pinch

Summary form only given, as follows. The UCI Staged Z-Pinch experiment is being assembled to study laboratory-scale thermonuclear fusion. The load configuration consists of an imploding-liner plasma that collapses onto a coaxial, hydrogenic-fiber target. The pulsed-power driver is a low-inductance, capacitor bank with the following design characteristics: 50 microFd, 50 kV, 50 kJ, 1.9 microsec risetime, and 2 MA into a short-circuit; the hardware has also been designed to run with a coaxial, or planar, plasma-opening switch. Diagnostics include conventional X-ray imaging and spectroscopy and a nanosecond, multi-frame, nitrogen-laser system. The target fiber would be solid hydrogen or deuterium, cryogenically extruded through an orifice of 10-100 microns diameter. Initially, current flows through the outer liner and ultimately implodes on-axis, due to self-magnetic pressure. Near peak compression the current transfers to the fiber on a time scale estimated to be of the order of a few nano-seconds. Such rapid transfer of energy leads to a rapid increase in the fiber-internal energy, attaining conditions favorable for thermonuclear ignition. The implosion dynamics for this coupled system is evaluated theoretically on the basis of both flux compression and magnetic penetration models which include adiabatic, Ohmic, alpha-particle heating and radiation losses. Theoretical analysis and computer modeling suggests that fusion breakeven is possible at several MA current. The authors present their most recent results for this new configuration.
Complementarity of SOMAscan to LC-MS/MS and RNA-seq for quantitative profiling of human embryonic and mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract Dynamic range limitations are challenging to proteomics, particularly in clinical samples. Affinity proteomics partially overcomes this, yet suffers from dependence on reagent quality. SOMAscan, an aptamer-based platform for over 1000 proteins, avoids that issue using nucleic acid binders. Targets include low expressed proteins not easily accessible by other approaches. Here we report on the potential of SOMAscan for the study of differently sourced mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in comparison to LC-MS/MS and RNA sequencing. While targeting fewer analytes, SOMAscan displays high precision and dynamic range coverage, allowing quantification of proteins not measured by the other platforms. Expression between cell types (ESC and MSC) was compared across techniques and uncovered the expected large differences. Sourcing was investigated by comparing subtypes: bone marrow-derived, standard in clinical studies, and ESC-derived MSC, thought to hold similar potential but devoid of inter-donor variability and proliferating faster in vitro. We confirmed subtype-equivalency, as well as vesicle and extracellular matrix related processes in MSC. In contrast, the proliferative nature of ESC was captured less by SOMAscan, where nuclear proteins are underrepresented. The complementary of SOMAscan allowed the comprehensive exploration of CD markers and signaling molecules, not readily accessible otherwise and offering unprecedented potential in subtype characterization. Significance Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) represent promising stem cell-derived therapeutics as indicated by their application in > 500 clinical trials currently registered with the NIH. Tissue-derived MSC require invasive harvesting and imply donor-to-donor differences, to which embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived MSC may provide an alternative and thus warrant thorough characterization. In continuation of our previous study where we compared in depth embryonic stem cells (ESC) and MSC from two sources (bone marrow and ESC-derived), we included the aptamer-based SOMAscan assay, complementing LC-MS/MS and RNA-seq data. Furthermore, SOMAscan, a targeted proteomics platform developed for analyzing clinical samples, has been benchmarked against established analytical platforms (LC-MS/MS and RNA-seq) using stem cell comparisons as a model.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices for Respiratory and Hearing Health among Midwestern Farmers

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices for hearing and respiratory health/safety among farmers in seven Midwestern states served by a federally funded Agricultural Center. Findings provided a baseline to longitudinally track the Agricultural Center's program outcomes and to design community education to improve safety and health among farmers. Design and Sample This was a cross-sectional study using a 30 item mailed survey to describe farmers' operations, demographics, health conditions, related information sources, and knowledge/attitude/practices for personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., ear plugs/muffs and dust masks/respirators). Measures Frequencies and percentages were calculated for each item and according to responses from younger versus older farmers. The unit of study was farm operators (N = 280) randomly selected from a publicly available database of corn/soybean and hog farmers in seven Midwestern states. Results Findings revealed important knowledge gaps among respondents regarding (1) hazardous exposure sources; (2) long-term health consequences of noise/dust exposure; (3) proper selection/fitting of PPE. Conclusions Public health nurses and primary care providers in rural communities should address specific knowledge gaps in order to enhance farmers' perceived understanding of their susceptibility to hazardous exposures. Increasing farmers' knowledge through preferred venues may help to improve PPE effectiveness.
Interaction of Activated Sickle Red Cell LW with Leukocytes Induces Leukocyte Adhesion to Endothelium Via CD44-E-Selectin.

Clinical observations have suggested a role for leukocytes in the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD). We have previously shown that epinephrine (epi), a stress hormone, activates LW-mediated sickle red cell (SS RBC) adhesion to non-activated endothelial cells (ECs). LW also recognizes leukocyte integrins. Moreover, SS RBCs can activate ECs. Therefore, we hypothesized that interaction of epi-activated LW on SS RBCs with leukocytes may also induce activation of leukocytes and stimulate their adhesion to ECs. To evaluate our hypothesis, SS RBCs were sham-treated or treated with 20 nM epi for 1 min, and after three washes, were incubated for 30 min with normal mononuclear leukocytes at 37°C. SS RBCs in leukocyte-RBC mixtures were lysed before measurement of leukocyte adhesion to non-activated ECs. Leukocytes not pre-incubated with SS RBCs and leukocytes treated with RBC lysis buffer alone did not adhere to ECs at a shear stress of 1 dyne/cm 2 . Incubation of sham-treated SS RBCs or sham- or epi-treated normal RBCs with leukocytes induced a non-significant adherence of 10±3%, 0% and 2% of the leukocyte population, respectively. Epi-treated SS RBCs, however, induced adhesion of 42±4.8% of leukocytes to ECs (p
Routine Pouchoscopy Prior to Ileostomy Takedown May Not Be Necessary in Patients with Chronic Ulcerative Colitis

BACKGROUND Creation of a J pouch is the gold standard surgical intervention in the treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC). Pouchoscopy prior to ileostomy takedown is commonly performed. We describe the frequency, indication, and findings on pouchoscopy, and determine if pouchoscopy affects rates of complications after takedown. METHODS All UC or indeterminate inflammatory bowel disease patients with a J pouch were retrospectively evaluated from January 1994 to December 2014. Cases were defined as having routine (asymptomatic) pouchoscopy after pouch creation but before ileostomy takedown. Controls were defined as having no pouchoscopy or pouchoscopy on the same day as that of takedown. RESULTS The study included 178 patients (81.5% cases, 18.5% controls). Fifty two percent of pouchoscopies were reported as normal. Common abnormal endoscopy findings included stricture (35%), pouchitis (7%), and cuffitis (0.7%). Length of stay during takedown hospitalization was shorter for cases than controls (3 vs. 5 days; p = 0.001), but neither short- nor long-term complications were statistically different between cases and controls. Abnormalities on pouchoscopy were not predictive for short-term complications (p = 0.73) or long-term complications (p = 0.55). Routine pouchoscopy did not delay takedown surgery in any of the included patients. CONCLUSIONS Routine pouchoscopy may not be necessary prior to ileostomy takedown; its greatest utility is in patients with suspected pouch complications.
National Policies, Agendas, and Polarization in American State Legislatures: 2011 to 2014

Why are some states polarized and others not? This article argues that state legislators are provided with more information by lobbyists and the media about national policies, or state-level bills ...
Estimating the Effects of Urban Street Incidents on Capacity

The effect of incidents on capacity is the most critical parameter in estimating the influence of incidents on network performance. The Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010) provides estimates of...
Transudative chylothorax in a patient with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Abstract Transudative chylothorax is a rare type of pleural effusion. It has been described to be present in the setting of liver cirrhosis, heart failure, amyloidosis, nephrotic syndrome, superior vena cava thrombosis, sclerosing mesenteritis and heart failure. We present the case of an 86-year-old woman with a right-side transudative chylothorax associated with heart failure and lymphangioleiomyomatosis.
Perpendicular susceptibility and geometrical frustration in two-dimensional Ising antiferromagnets: Exact solutions

Discovery of new materials and improved experimental as well as numerical techniques have led to a renewed interest in geometrically frustrated spin systems. However, there are very few exact results available that can provide a benchmark for comparison. In this work, we calculate exactly the perpendicular susceptibility ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ for an Ising antiferromagnet with (i) nearest-neighbor pair interaction on a kagome lattice where strong frustration prevents long-range ordering and (ii) elementary triplet interactions on a kagome lattice which has no frustration but the system remains disordered down to zero temperature. By comparing with other known exact results with and without frustration, we propose that an appropriately temperature-scaled ${\ensuremath{\chi}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ can be used as a quantitative measure of the degree of frustration in Ising spin systems.
Research Trajectories in Organizational Change & Development: Conversations with Volume 23 Authors

The first annual research volume in Organization Change and Development was published bu JAI Press in 1987. Since then, ROCD has provided a special platform for scholars and practitioners to share ...
Cytokines and MDS.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are considered to be stem cell disorders. A number of cytogenetic abnormalities have been demonstrated in these patients. In the last decade it has become apparent that besides the cytogenetic and molecular abnormalities at the individual cell level, the global alterations of the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment brought about by shifts in the cytokine milieu may play a crucial role in defining the pathobiology of these disorders. The combination of factors produced by adherent stromal cells and hematopoietic cells constitute the web of cytokines meshing a variety of biological processes including survival, proliferation and differentiation of the hematopoietic cells. Imperatively thus, hematopoiesis in these patients is a result of a critical balance between the stimulatory and inhibitory signals transduced by these cytokines. Primarily effects of these cytokines could be chemotatic, stimulatory or inhibitory to hematopoiesis.
Outcomes of Direct-to-Consumer Hearing Devices for People with Hearing Loss: A Review

As the population of those with mild to moderate hearing loss increases the need remains for amplification solutions. There is a trend to offer alternative amplification options beyond traditional hearing aids. Due to reduced medical risk associated with the most common types of hearing loss (i.e., presbycusis and noise induced), many individuals with such audiological configurations may have success with direct-to-consumer hearing devices (DCHD). The current paper presents a literature review of studies focused on the outcomes of DCHDs for people with hearing loss. Search of electronic databases were used to identify relevant articles for review. Studies on outcomes of DCHDs mainly focused on older adults and reported consistently positive results in clinical and self-reported outcome measures. Improvements in auditory ability, communicative function, social engagement, quality of life, and reduction of self-reported hearing disability were observed. The nature of the direct-to-consumer method makes it challenging to design studies that will accurately represent outcomes for patients due to the extensive dissimilarities in patient journey and device selection options. Accordingly, a majority of the studies conducted on this topic are of low quality of evidence and only provide short-term (i.e., less than one year) outcomes. In addition, results may have been influenced by researcher and/or clinician involvement in choosing the devices and by provision of additional support (i.e., incorporation of a communication partner and communication strategies training). Overall, the literature suggests positive outcomes and self-reported benefit of DCHDs in older adults with hearing loss. However, additional research is needed in this area to verify outcomes.
Impact of treating facilities' type and volume in patients with major salivary gland cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis Investigate the relationship between facility volume and type on overall survival (OS) in patients with major salivary gland cancer undergoing surgical treatment. Study design Retrospective review of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) 2004-2015. Methods The NCDB was queried for patients with surgically treated major salivary gland cancer. The mean number of cases treated at each institution was calculated. High-volume facilities (HVFs) were defined as the top 10% of centers. Univariate and multivariate propensity score-matched analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of facility volume and type on OS. Results A total of 8,658 patients were analyzed. Distribution among facilities was highly skewed, with a median value of 1.38 cases/year (range, 0.11-23.25). On univariate analysis, treatment at HVFs was not associated with improved OS. However, there were significantly more patients with adverse clinical features treated at HVFs. Treatment at HVFs was associated with increased rates of concomitant neck dissections and lower rates of positive margins. In propensity-score matched cohorts, OS was not significantly improved in patients treated at HVFs (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.979; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.879-1.091) or academic/research institutions (HR: 0.914; 95% CI: 0.821-1.018). Conclusions Regionalization of care is occurring in patients with major salivary gland malignancies. Patients treated at HVFs had greater rates of adverse clinical features and more commonly underwent neck dissections, although adjuvant radiotherapy rates were similar between facility types. There was no apparent survival benefit to patients treated at HVFs or academic/research institutions, although there were lower rates of positive margins at HVF. Level of evidence NA Laryngoscope, 129:2321-2327, 2019.
Clinical significance of low serum cryptococcal antigen titers by lateral flow assay in immunocompromised patients: a retrospective case control study

Objectives:Cryptococcus species are associated with invasive fungal infections in immunosuppressed individuals. The clinical significance of low titer cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) by lateral flow assay is frequently uncertain. We investigated the correlation of low CrAg titers with disease in an immunocompromised patient population. Methods: Patients with first-time positive CrAg results with low serum titers (≤1:10) at two medical centers (Los Angeles, CA) from April 2014-July 2018 were included. Age-matched controls with high (≥1:20) and negative titers were selected. We extracted medical records for pertinent clinical, radiologic, and laboratory data for cryptococcal disease. Results: From 2,196 serum samples submitted for CrAg testing, 96 cases were included (32 each in low titer, high titer, and negative titer groups). One or more immunocompromising condition was identified in 95% of patients, including HIV infection (45%), solid organ transplant (26%), and cirrhosis (22%). Pulmonary cryptococcosis was diagnosed in 9 (28%) low titer and 8 (25%) high titer patients (p=1.00). Disseminated cryptococcosis occurred in 7 (22%) low titer and 15 (47%) high titers cases (p=0.064). Titers ≤1:10 more frequently represented isolated antigenemia in HIV-positive than non-HIV, immunocompromised patients (p Conclusions: Low serum CrAg titers (≤1:10) correlated with cryptococcal disease in a substantial proportion of non-HIV immunocompromised patients and should prompt careful clinical workup for cryptococcal infection.
Modern chassis development as a result of skilfully combining testing and simulation

Chassis development involves a host of requirements for the performance and efficiency of chassis components. These include costing, weight, CO2 emissions, the capability to fit into the module strategy, packaging, and strength requirements, in addition to vehicle dynamics and ride comfort. In respect to the full vehicle, the chassis is responsible for approximately 25% of the vehicle weight and 20% of the vehicle costs. Taking these factors into account, it is essential to make the chassis development process as efficient and systematic as possible. This means that the tools that are available in development process, i.e. hardware-based testing and simulation-based testing, must be linked as closely as possible in order to generate the maximum benefits. Whereas in the past vehicle and component releases were the product of testing (and still are today), the rapid development of simulation tools, together with increased computing performance, means that a few tests could be replaced by simulations and that the boundary conditions for real-life testing can be more accurately established by means of targeted, preliminary simulations. Reduction of hardware and respectively better test results achieved by preliminary parameter studies in simulation have become essential if we look at the increasing number of derivates based on a certain vehicle platform. Thus less time within development process per derivate is available because resources have not grown in the same way. This means that the reduction of development loops per derivate is compensated by simulation techniques. However, it is not the intention of the authors of this paper to have testing replaced in its entirety by simulations at some point in the future. The authors rather wish to achieve a targeted interaction of both methods in order to bring them together within development process. This paper provides a number of examples which highlight the extent to which testing and simulation have merged and grown together over the past few years, a trend that will continue and become more pronounced in the future.
(Sex) Crime and Punishment in the #MeToo Era: How the Public Views Rape

One of the core tasks of a well-functioning state is providing fair and adequate criminal justice. Recent events have raised concerns that the US exhibits a “culture of rape,” wherein victims are often disbelieved and blamed. Scholars have not yet examined how the public understands rape and how it should be punished, despite the important role that public pressure has played in the #MeToo era. We present an empirical conceptualization of rape culture to generate predictions for how various attributes of rape incidents affect the likelihood that they are perceived as punishable crimes. In a series of conjoint experiments, we demonstrate that details relating to the victim’s consent and credibility significantly decrease participants’ propensities to support reporting to police or to recommend a severe punishment for the perpetrator. The results show that emphasizing certain legally irrelevant features of rape strongly affect whether the public views an incident as severe or worthy of punishment.
Health Resources and Services Administration Organ Donor

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Organ Donor website is a federal government source providing information and educational resources about organ donation and transplantation. ...