cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Midesophageal Pulsion Diverticulum Resulting From Hypercontractile (Jackhammer) Esophagus

We report a patient with significant dysphagia from hypercontractile "jackhammer" esophagus and a midesophageal pulsion diverticulum. This was treated with a thoracoscopic diverticulectomy and a long esophageal myotomy sparing the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). We describe the clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment of this uncommon esophageal motility disorder. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of a midesophageal diverticulum caused by jackhammer esophagus. We propose that in the setting of normal LES function, successful treatment should include diverticulectomy with an LES-sparing myotomy.
Life-time history of insomnia and hypersomnia symptoms as correlates of alcohol, cocaine and heroin use and relapse among adults seeking substance use treatment in the United States from 1991 to 1994.

Aims To examine the association between a life-time history of insomnia and hypersomnia compared with no sleep disturbance and substance use patterns and amounts before and after a substance use treatment episode. Design Secondary analysis of data from the Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies conducted from 1991 to 1994. Setting Data were collected at 96 substance use treatment programs in 11 United States cities, including short-term in-patient, long-term residential, methadone maintenance and out-patient drug-free treatment modalities. Participants Study samples included 7168 adults at treatment entry and 2965 at 12 months post-treatment entry whose primary substance use at entry was alcohol (14.7%), cocaine (62.7%) or heroin (22.6%). Measurements Life-time history of insomnia and hypersomnia was assessed via self-report. Type and frequency of substance use were assessed at treatment entry. Substance use was also assessed 12 months following treatment completion. Associations were examined using linear and logistic regression with age, sex, race, education level, depression history, treatment modality and in-treatment substance use as covariates. Findings Life-time history of insomnia, hypersomnia, both or neither was reported by 26.3, 9.5, 28.0 and 36.2% of participants, respectively. Compared with no sleep disturbance, life-time insomnia and hypersomnia were associated at treatment entry with unique substance use patterns and a higher frequency of any substance use (P < 0.001). All types of sleep disturbance were associated with higher rates of cocaine use at 12-month post-entry (odds ratios: 1.30–1.57). Conclusions There is evidence of an adverse association between substance use and sleep disturbance including higher frequency of all substance use before substance abuse treatment and higher rates of cocaine use after a treatment episode.
Guthrie, Malcolm (1903–1972)

Malcolm Guthrie (February 10, 1903–November 22, 1972) is known for his extensive and methodical research on the comparative linguistics of the Bantu languages of sub-Saharan Africa. This work led to his widely used Bantu classification system and investigations into the origins of the Bantu languages and their speakers.
What is a "schedule of reinforcement"?

Several ambiguities in the present terminology of behavior theory obscure some important theoretical assumptions and experimental details in current research. Left unclarified, such ambiguities impede the accurate analysis of laboratory procedures, and prevent reliable communication among researchers. This paper focuses on the term “schedule of reinforcement.” It points out that two distinguishable operational rules are implicated in the term: in the case where reinforcement is of the so-called response contingent type, the “schedule” is really a rule to identify the response to be reinforced; in the case of non-contingent reinforcement, the “schedule” is truly a rule for delivery of reinforcement. Other terminological ambiguities that are encountered in a discussion of this term include “reinforcement” and “intermittency.” A resolution of these problems will necessarily involve the procedures of non-contingent reinforcement, and the parameter of reinforcement probability.
Contextual multi-armed bandit algorithms for personalized learning action selection

Optimizing the selection of learning resources and practice questions to address each individual student's needs has the potential to improve students' learning efficiency. In this paper, we study the problem of selecting a personalized learning action for each student (e.g. watching a lecture video, working on a practice question, etc.), based on their prior performance, in order to maximize their learning outcome. We formulate this problem using the contextual multi-armed bandits framework, where students' prior concept knowledge states (estimated from their responses to questions in previous assessments) correspond to contexts, the personalized learning actions correspond to arms, and their performance on future assessments correspond to rewards. We propose three new Bayesian policies to select personalized learning actions for students that each exhibits advantages over prior work, and experimentally validate them using real-world datasets.
Costing out Quality Changes: An Econometric Frontier Analysis of U.S. Navy Enlistments

The required quality mix of U.S. Navy enlisted recruits, i.e. the proportion who have a High School Degree and who score in the upper percentiles on the Armed Services Entrance Exams, can have pervasive impacts on the size of the recruiting budget needed and its composition. Additionally, the recruiting environment, e.g. the unemployment rate, the size of the eligible population, competition from other services, service policies concerning the management of its Delayed Entry Program, etc., as well as the cost per recruiter, overhead costs associated with placement cost of advertising, etc. also will affect the total budget needed and the proper utilization of each resource. This effort focuses on forecasting the recruiting cost impacts of contemplated changes in the quantity and quality mix of U.S. Navy recruits. The approach utilized is econometric, utilizing the so-called Translog frontier estimation technique, involving estimating systems of equations. The data base is at the monthly, regional level for FY84-FY86. The effort estimates the recruiting cost impacts of varying the quality mix as well as the recruit substitution possibilities without increasing recruiting costs. The costs impact of varying key demographics is also estimated. The results generally agree with the conventional wisdom of Dod manpower planners. The general approach is applicable to settings other than military recruiting where it is of interest to estimate the budget impacts of varying the quality or quantity of outputs.
Burden of Multiple Chronic Conditions among Patients with Urological Cancer.

Purpose: We describe age, multiple chronic condition profiles and health system contact in patients with urological cancer.Materials and Methods: Using Geisinger Health System electronic health records we identified adult primary care patients and a subset with at least 1 urology encounter between 2001 and 2015. The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality Chronic Condition Indicator and Clinical Classifications Software tools were applied to ICD-9 codes to identify chronic conditions. Multiple chronic conditions were defined as 2 or more chronic conditions. Patients with urological cancer were identified using ICD-9 codes for prostate, bladder, kidney, testis and penile cancer. Inpatient and outpatient visits in the year prior to the most recent encounter were counted to document health system contact.Results: We identified 357,100 primary care and 33,079 urology patients, of whom 4,023 had urological cancer. Patients with urological cancer were older than primary care patients (71 vs 46 years) and th...
Human-Machine Interaction for Vehicles: Review and Outlook

Human-Machine Interaction for Vehicles: Review and Outlook surveys and explores the significant and growing body of research on the topic of modern in-vehicle user interfaces. Today’s vehicles have myriad user interfaces, from those related to the moment-to-moment control of the vehicle, to those that allow the consumption of information and entertainment. The bulk of the research in this domain is related to manual driving. With recent advances in automated vehicles, attention has increasingly focused on user interactions. In exploring human-machine interaction for both manual and automated driving, a key issue has been how to create safe in-vehicle interactions that assist the driver in completing the driving task, as well as to allow drivers to accomplish various non-driving tasks. In automated vehicles, human-machine interactions will increasingly allow users to reclaim their time, so that they can engage in non-driving tasks. Given that it is unlikely that most vehicles will be fully automated in the near future, there are also significant efforts to understand how to help the driver switch between different modes of automation. Human-Machine Interaction for Vehicles: Review and Outlook reviews the key findings from this line of research, as well as recommending areas for future work. It is an ideal primer for researchers and user interface designers working in the area.
Measuring mitotic forces.

Abstract Productive chromosome movements require that a large multiprotein complex called the kinetochore assemble on sister centromeres. The kinetochore fulfills two critical functions as (1) the physical linkage between chromosomes and spindle microtubules and (2) a mechanomolecular sensor that relays a spindle assembly checkpoint signal delaying anaphase onset until chromosomes are attached to spindle microtubules and bioriented. Given its central roles in such a vital process, the kinetochore is one of the most important force-transducing structures in cells; yet it has been technically challenging to measure kinetochore forces. Barriers to measuring cellular forces have begun to be broken by the development of fluorescence-based tension sensors. In this chapter, two methods will be described for measuring kinetochore forces in living cells and strategies for applying these sensors to other force-transducing processes and molecules will be discussed.
Mapping the Lidar Attenuation Coefficient in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, USA

Airborne lidar study of lake ecosystems is still a relatively unexplored field. In this presentation we introduce a spatial and temporal study of the lidar attenuation coefficient from a series of flights conducted in 2015 and 2016 over Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. We then relate these data to the Secchi disk depth, discuss the possible impact that local weather may have had on the attenuation coefficient, and compare these data to the modeled lidar attenuation coefficient.
Social dilemma experiments in sociology, psychology, political science, and economics.

Abstract Social dilemmas are so named because their structure creates an incentive problem: what is in the individual’s benefit at any given point in time is contrary to the group benefit over time. Social dilemmas are pervasive and can be found at all levels of interaction from dyads to nation-states. As a consequence, all of the social sciences have both a theoretical and an applied interest in them. Much of the research across disciplines has been experimental. This chapter details with some specific theoretical and methodological approaches that have demonstrated both problems and solutions to issues in social dilemmas.
What is the analytic hierarchy process

In our everyday life, we must constantly make choices concerning what tasks to do or not to do, when to do them, and whether to do them at all.
Fuzzy logic control: Hardware implementations

Fuzzy logic and fuzzy expert control systems are currently among the most active research and development areas of artificial intelligence. Thanks to tremendous technical advances and many industrial applications developed by the Japanese, fuzzy logic enjoys an unprecedented popularity. The object of this paper is to describe a number of hardware implementations of fuzzy control systems. The paper is organized in five sections: Section 1 provides a brief introduction to fuzzy control. Section 2 describes a real-time fuzzy control and tracker for a power system generation unit. Section 3 illustrates the experimental experiences for real-time fuzzy control of a model train on a circular path. A fuzzy PI controller for a thermoelectric cell used for nonchlorofluorocarbon (CFC) air conditioning and refrigeration systems is given in Section 4. Finally, Section 5 presents and discusses some conclusions.
Alternative splicing of Nox4 regulates subcellular redox-dependent pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells

There is ambiguity as to the biologic function of the Nox4 NADPH oxidase with evidence that it is both protective and deleterious in the cardiovascular system. The constitutive activity of Nox4 suggests that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated do not function primarily as second messengers. Furthermore, regulation of Nox4 activity is mediated primarily by changes in expression levels. Regulation of alternative splicing and functional effects of Nox4 isoforms are not known. We hypothesized that changes in Nox4 isoform expression and subcellular distribution regulate subcellular redox state and specific cellular processes. We found that Nox4 is differentially spliced in atherosclerotic monkey aortic smooth muscle cells (SMC) with an increase in the shorter, non-transmembrane Nox4D and a decrease in the transmembrane form Nox4A. Analysis of the Nox4 3’UTR identified putative binding sites for the microRNAs miR-9 and miR-25 and these miRNAs were elevated in the SMCs isolated from aorta of atherosclerotic monkeys. Similarly, the overexpression of miR-9 or miR-25 in cultured SMCs increased Nox4D expression and decreased Nox4A expression. Using subcellular-targeted HyPer probes, the overexpression of Nox4A increased ROS in the mitochondria, cytosol and nucleus, whereas overexpression of Nox4D predominately showed increased ROS in the nucleus. Changes in Nox4 expression differentially regulate transcriptional activation of the antioxidant response element and expression of HIF-1α. Knockdown of Nox4 decreased NADP+/NADPH and GSSG/2GSH couples while overexpression increased these redox couples. In addition, changes in Nox4 levels resulted in protein-specific changes in thiol oxidation. These data suggest that Nox4 splicing is in part regulated by miR-9 and miR-25 and the dynamic regulation of subcellular redox status by Nox4 isoforms is a mechanism by which the cell integrates information and coordinates complex signaling pathways.
Hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome: lesson from a 10-year experience from a community hospital.

BACKGROUND Life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has improved significantly over the past decades. However, there are sparse data documenting the co-morbidities and hospitalisation of adult patients with DS in the literature. The aim of this study was to characterise the co-morbidities and pattern of hospitalisation in adult patients with DS during a 10-year period at the community hospital as well as to compare hospitalisation parameters with the general adult population during the same years. METHOD We reviewed the medical records of 81 hospitalisations from 37 patients with DS aged 21 to 68 years at Metrowest Medical Center during a 10-year period and compared with those of the general adult population during the same time. Co-morbidities were also described. RESULTS Adults with DS had a mean age at admission of 48.6 ± 8.8 years with the median length of stay of 3 days (interquartile range 4 days). Male patients were hospitalised longer than female patients (mean 5.0 vs. 2.8 days; P < 0.05), and patients who lived at home were admitted at earlier ages than those who came from residential healthcare facility (mean 41.5 vs. 52.2 years; P < 0.001). The most common cause of hospitalisation was pneumonia/aspiration syndrome (29.6%), and the most common co-morbidity was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/dysphagia (70.3%). Presence of GERD/dysphagia or seizure disorder was significantly associated with multiple admission and readmission within 1 month (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was 4.9%, and the rate of intensive care unit admission was 8.6%. CONCLUSIONS Our cohort did not show statistically significant different hospitalisation parameters such as inpatient mortality and average length of stay when compared with general adult population hospitalised at the same years. The care of adult patients with DS presents challenges in internal medicine due to its unique co-morbid profile and signifies the importance of multidisciplinary approach. In order to improve the care of this patient population, their co-morbidities, particularly GERD/dysphagia and seizure disorder, should be optimally managed and comprehensively addressed when patients are hospitalised.
Clipping of a giant partially thrombosed ophthalmic segment aneurysm

Abstract Ophthalmic segment aneurysms (OSA) originate from the paraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) usually at the origin of the ophthalmic artery. OSAs represent 1.5–10% of intracranial aneurysms, and although often asymptomatic, may lead to optic nerve (ON) compression and/or subarachnoid hemorrhage. When the dome is partially or completely thrombosed, microsurgical clipping can provide vascular exclusion and ON decompression through thrombectomy. Nevertheless, high expertise and knowledge of the regional anatomy are required to manage this complex surgical field. In this operative video, we show the management of a giant thrombosed OSA. The 52-year-old male patient presented with a recent history of worsening headache and progressive right visual loss. Neuroimaging revealed a 3 cm partially thrombosed right OSA, with mass effect on the ON and surrounding edema. An incidental 5 mm right middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm was also identified. Endovascular occlusion was not feasible, and the patient agreed to microsurgical treatment. A right pterional craniotomy was performed and the sylvian fissure was split, exposing both lesions. Parent vessel control was achieved with temporary clipping of the cervical ICA, and distal to the origin of the aneurysm. After debulking of the thrombosed and calcified dome with ultrasonic aspiration, the aneurysm was secured with combined clipping inside and outside the dome. The MCA aneurysm was subsequently exposed and clipped. Indocyanine green video-angiography confirmed exclusion of both aneurysms and flow patency of the rest of the circulation. The patient was discharged without complications and post-operative angiography showed complete occlusion of both aneurysms.
Therapeutic Potentials of Curcumin in Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract Curcumin is a naturally occurring and highly lipophilic polyphenolic substance derived from the rhizomes of plant Curcuma longa. Curcumin is used as a spice in food preparations of India, Iran, Malesia, China, Polynesia, and Thailand. Curcumin has been used as an effective therapeutic agent in traditional Indian and Chinese medicinal systems for the treatment and prevention of different diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ocular diseases, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney diseases, and chronic infections. It has a half-life of around 8 hours in human blood. Curcumin can cross blood–brain barrier and produces neuroprotective effects due to its antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties in neurological disorders. Curcumin not only reverses the amyloid pathology in transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease but also modulates synaptic plasticity and induces neurogenesis in the hippocampus. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the therapeutic potentials and molecular mechanisms of action of curcumin in Parkinson’s disease.
Health Literacy Among In-Care Older HIV Diagnosed Persons with Multimorbidity: MMP NYS (Excluding NYC).

Older persons living with diagnosed HIV (PLWDH) are also at risk for age-related chronic conditions. With conflicting results on studies assessing health literacy and durable viral suppression, this study is the first in assessing this relationship using representative data on older in-care HIV-diagnosed persons with multimorbidity. Weighted data collected 2009–2014 from the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP) was used. Health literacy was assessed using the three-item Brief Health Literacy Screen (BHLS). The mean health literacy score was 11.22 (95% CI 10.86–11.59), and the mean multimorbidity was 4.75 (SE = 0.32). After adjusting, health literacy (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.77–0.99) was found to be significantly associated with durable viral suppression. Adequate health literacy can help with achieving durable viral suppression. For these persons, addressing health literacy might increase their ability to access and navigate the healthcare system, thereby helping them stay engaged and maintain adherence to HIV care.
New Modes of Environmental Governance in Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation in Oregon

Natural resource challenges often span administrative jurisdictions and include actors and processes operating at different spatial and political scales. We applied concepts of new environmental go...
Computationally Aided Discovery of LysEFm5 Variants with Improved Catalytic Activity and Stability

Bacteriophage-derived lysin proteins are potentially effective antimicrobials that would benefit from engineered improvements to their bioavailability and specific activity. Here, the catalytic domain of LysEFm5, a lysin with activity against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), was subjected to site-saturation mutagenesis at positions whose selection was guided by sequence and structural information from homologous proteins. A second-order Potts model with parameters inferred from large sets of homologous sequence information was used to predict the average change in the statistical fitness for mutant libraries with diversity at pairs of sites within the secondary catalytic shell. Guided by the statistical fitness, nine double mutant saturation libraries were created and plated on agar containing autoclaved VRE to quickly identify and segregate catalytically active (halo-forming) and inactive (non-halo-forming) variants. High-throughput DNA sequencing of 873 unique variants showed that the statistical fitness was predictive of the retention or loss of catalytic activity (AUC = 0.840 – 0.894), with the inclusion of more diverse sequences in the starting multiple sequence alignment improving the classification accuracy when pairwise amino acid couplings (epistasis) were considered. Of eight random halo-forming variants selected for more sensitive testing, one showed a 1.8 ± 0.4 – fold improvement in specific activity and an 11.5 ± 0.8 °C increase in melting temperature as compared to the wild-type. Our results demonstrate that a computationally-informed approach employing homologous protein information coupled with a mid-throughput screening assay allows for the expedited discovery of lysin variants with improved properties. Importance Broad-spectrum antibiotics can indiscriminately kill most bacteria, including commensal species that are a part of the normal human flora. This can potentially lead to the proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria upon elimination of competing species, and in unwanted autoimmune effects in patients. Bacteriophage-derived lysin proteins are an alternative to conventional antibiotics that have co-evolved alongside a specific bacterial host. Lysins are capable of targeting conserved substrates in the bacterial cell wall essential for its viability. To engineer these proteins to exhibit improved therapeutically-relevant properties, homology-guided statistical approaches can be used to identify compelling sites for mutation and quantify the functional constraints acting on these sites to direct mutagenic library creation. The platform described herein couples this informed approach with a visual plate assay that can be used to simultaneously screen hundreds of mutants for catalytic activity, allowing for the streamlined identification of improved lysin variants.
Enhanced inter-regional coupling of neural responses underlies long-term behavioral priming

Stimulus identification commonly improves with repetition over long delays (repetition priming), whereas neural activity commonly decreases (repetition suppression). Multiple models have been proposed to explain this brain-behavior relationship, predicting alterations in functional and/or effective connectivity (Synchrony and Predictive Coding models), in the latency of neural responses (Facilitation model), and in the relative similarity of neural representations (Sharpening model). Here, we test these predictions with fMRI during overt and covert naming of repeated and novel objects. While we find partial support for predictions of the Facilitation and Sharpening models in the left fusiform gyrus and left frontal cortex, the strongest support was observed for the Synchrony model, with increased coupling between right temporoparietal and anterior cingulate cortex for repeated objects that correlated with priming magnitude across participants. Despite overlap with regions showing repetition suppression, increased coupling and repetition suppression varied independently, establishing that they follow from distinct mechanisms.
The Influence of Mental Health on Outcomes Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract Background Anxiety and depression symptoms have been associated with higher pain and lower functional scores in patients with glenohumeral osteoarthritis (GHOA). The influence of mental health on outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) for GHOA has not been fully investigated . Methods This observational cohort study included 143 shoulders in 135 subjects undergoing TSA for GHOA. Preoperative imaging was assessed for glenoid wear pattern. Patients completed preoperative and postoperative American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS), and PROMIS Upper Extremity (UE), Physical Function (PF), and Pain Interference (PI) scores. The Western Ontario Osteoarthritis Score (WOOS) was collected postoperatively. Mean postoperative pain and functional scores, improvement from preoperative scores, and surgical regret were compared between varying severity of anxiety or depression and pattern of glenoid wear. Results Compared to subjects without anxiety, those with moderate-to-severe anxiety reported worse postoperative ASES (p=0.019), WOOS (p Discussion Patients with anxiety and depression report similar improvements in pain and function following TSA similar to those without depression or anxiety. Despite the similar improvement, those with moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety symptoms reported persistently lower functional and higher pain scores. Though most patients are satisfied following TSA, those with moderate-to-severe depression may be more likely to regret undergoing surgery. Future studies should identify mental health symptoms preoperatively and evaluate the effect of preoperative intervention on postoperative outcomes following TSA.
Black Panther, queer erasure, and intersectional representation in popular culture

This essay interrogates queer erasure from the film Black Panther. The implications of queer erasure from one of the most recognizable and lucrative franchises in film history are particularly prob...
Acute subdural hematomas secondary to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage confer poor prognosis: A national perspective

Background Aneurysmal ruptures typically cause subarachnoid bleeding with intraparenchymal and intraventricular extension. However, rare instances of acute aneurysmal ruptures present with concomitant, non-traumatic subdural hemorrhage (SDH). We explored the incidence and difference in outcomes of SDH with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) as compared with aSAH alone. Methods Retrospective cohort study from 2012 to 2015 from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample (NIS) (20% stratified sample of all hospitals in the United States). NIS database (2012 to September 2015) queried to identify all patients presenting with aSAH. From this population, the patients with concomitant SDH were identified. Results A total of 10 075 patients with both cerebral aneurysms and aSAH were included. Of these, 335 cases of concomitant SDH and aSAH were identified. There was no significant change in the rate of SDH in aSAH over time. SDH with aSAH patients had a mortality of 24% compared with 12% (p=0.003) in the SAH only group, and only 16% were discharged home vs 37% (p=0.003) in the SAH group. Conclusions There is a 3.5% incidence of acute SDH in patients presenting with non-traumatic aSAH. Patients with SDH and aSAH have nearly double the mortality, higher rate of discharge to nursing home and rehabilitation, and a significantly lower rate of discharge to home and return to routine functioning. This information is useful in counseling and prognostication of patients with concomitant SDH and aSAH.
Youth advocacy varies in relation to adult advisor characteristics and practices in gender-sexuality alliances

With growing attention to youth’s efforts to address sexual and gender diversity issues in gender-sexuality alliances (GSAs), there remains limited research on adult advisors. Do advisor characteri...
Difference in travel behavior between immigrants in the u.s. and us born residents: The immigrant effect for car-sharing, ride-sharing, and bike-sharing services

Abstract Understanding immigrants’ travel behavior is important to transportation planners and policymakers working to implement better transportation planning and public policies to serve those needs. The recent changes to the transportation system, specifically, the recent emergence of shared mobility services, such as car-sharing, ride-sharing, and bike-sharing, may have resulted in changes in how immigrants travel. Thus, we explored two research questions: (1) whether immigrants in the U.S. are more likely to rely on the three newly emerging transportation modes than US-born persons, and (2) whether the assimilation theory can be applied to the modes. To answer these questions, we used data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey and employed Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial regression models to understand the specific behavior of immigrant travelers. The models found the “immigrant effect” only for car-sharing services and bike-sharing programs; that is, relative to U.S. born residents, immigrants in the U.S. use car sharing and bike-sharing services more frequently, while we found an insignificant association in ride-sharing apps use. However, the negative binomial models suggested that immigrants use car sharing and ride sharing less frequently than expected. Immigrants who are in their first few years of living in the U.S. use smartphone rideshare app more frequently, confirming the “assimilation theory.” The results of the predicted frequency of the use indicated that with all other independent variables held constant, U.S. born residents use car-sharing and ride-sharing services more frequently than immigrants, though the difference is marginal. However, immigrants would still tend to use bike share programs more frequently rather than U.S. born residents.
CAR-T and checkpoint inhibitors: toxicities and antidotes in the emergency department.

New cancer treatments with immunotherapy have led to unique toxicities affecting cancer patients. As cancer-related visits to the emergency department increase, the emergency physician and the medi...
Unmet Behavioral Health and Social Needs of Home Healthcare Patients and Their Caregivers

Lack of recognition and treatment of mental health disorders in the home healthcare (HHC) population has been recognized as a national public health problem. However, there is a gap in understandin...
Comprehensive Characterization of COVID-19 Patients with Repeatedly Positive SARS-CoV-2 Tests Using a Large U.S. Electronic Health Record Database.

In the absence of genome sequencing, two positive molecular tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) separated by negative tests, prolonged time, and symptom resolution remain the best surrogate measure of possible reinfection. Using a large electronic health record database, we characterized clinical and testing data for 23 patients with repeatedly positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test results ≥60 days apart, separated by ≥2 consecutive negative test results. The prevalence of chronic medical conditions, symptoms, and severe outcomes related to coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) illness were ascertained. The median age of patients was 64.5 years, 40% were Black, and 39% were female. A total of 83% smoked within the prior year, 61% were overweight/obese, 83% had immunocompromising conditions, and 96% had ≥2 comorbidities. The median interval between the two positive tests was 77 days. Among the 19 patients with 60 to 89 days between positive tests, 17 (89%) exhibited symptoms or clinical manifestations consistent with COVID-19 at the time of the second positive test and 14 (74%) were hospitalized at the second positive test. Of the four patients with ≥90 days between two positive tests (patient 2 [PT2], PT8, PT14, and PT19), two had mild or no symptoms at the second positive test and one, an immunocompromised patient, had a brief hospitalization at the first diagnosis, followed by intensive care unit (ICU) admission at the second diagnosis 3 months later. Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of compromised immune systems, comorbidities, obesity, and smoking among patients with repeatedly positive SARS-CoV-2 tests. Despite limitations, including a lack of semiquantitative estimates of viral load, these data may help prioritize suspected cases of reinfection for investigation and continued surveillance. IMPORTANCE The comprehensive characterization of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing and clinical data for patients with repeatedly positive SARS-CoV-2 tests can help prioritize suspected cases of reinfection for investigation in the absence of genome sequencing data and for continued surveillance of the potential long-term health consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Coverage-dependent adsorption model of atomic oxygen on Ag(111)

Theoretical gas-surface models that describe adsorption over a wide range of coverages can provide qualitative insight into chemical phenomena that occur at intermediate to high coverages, such as subsurface adsorption, surface reconstruction, and industrial heterogeneous catalysis. However, most atomistic, quantum-mechanical models of gas-surface adsorption are limited to low adsorbate coverage due to the large computational cost of models built using many surface atoms and adsorbates. To investigate adsorption in the subsurface of a crystalline solid at high coverage, we present a lattice-gas adsorption model that includes surface and subsurface sites of the solid, and is fully parametrized using density functional theory. We apply the model to study the coverage-dependent adsorption of atomic oxygen on the Ag(111) surface. Oxygen population distributions calculated using the model show the onset of subsurface adsorption at a total coverage of approximately 1/4 monolayer, the saturation of surface adsorption at a total coverage of approximately 1/3 monolayer, and a greater accumulation of oxygen in the second rather than the first subsurface at total coverages greater than 1/2 monolayer. Computation of core-electron binding energies and projected density of states of an oxygen distribution predicted by the model reveal qualitative differences in oxygen-silver bonding at the surface and subsurface, suggesting that oxygen adsorbed in the two regions could play distinct roles in surface chemistry.
Assessment of the global noise algorithm for automatic noise measurement in head CT examinations.

PURPOSE The global noise (GN) algorithm has been previously introduced as a method for automatic noise measurement in clinical CT images. The accuracy of the GN algorithm has been assessed in abdomen CT examinations, but not in any other body part until now. This work assesses the GN algorithm accuracy in automatic noise measurement in head CT examinations. METHODS A publicly available image dataset of 99 head CT examinations was used to evaluate the accuracy of the GN algorithm in comparison to reference noise values. Reference noise values were acquired using a manual noise measurement procedure. The procedure used a consistent instruction protocol and multiple observers to mitigate the influence of intra- and interobserver variation, resulting in precise reference values. Optimal GN algorithm parameter values were determined. The GN algorithm accuracy and the corresponding statistical confidence interval were determined. The GN measurements were compared across the six different scan protocols used in this dataset. The correlation of GN to patient head size was also assessed using a linear regression model, and the CT scanner's X-ray beam quality was inferred from the model fit parameters. RESULTS Across all head CT examinations in the dataset, the range of reference noise was 2.9-10.2 HU. A precision of ±0.33 HU was achieved in the reference noise measurements. After optimization, the GN algorithm had a RMS error 0.34 HU corresponding to a percent RMS error of 6.6%. The GN algorithm had a bias of +3.9%. Statistically significant differences in GN were detected in 11 out of the 15 different pairs of scan protocols. The GN measurements were correlated with head size with a statistically significant regression slope parameter (p < 10-7 ). The CT scanner X-ray beam quality estimated from the slope parameter was 3.5 cm water HVL (2.8-4.8 cm 95% CI). CONCLUSION The GN algorithm was validated for application in head CT examinations. The GN algorithm was accurate in comparison to reference manual measurement, with errors comparable to interobserver variation in manual measurement. The GN algorithm can detect noise differences in examinations performed on different scanner models or using different scan protocols. The trend in GN across patients of different head sizes closely follows that predicted by a physical model of X-ray attenuation.
Simulating Human Activities for Synthetic Inputs to Sensor Systems

We are developing human activity simulations that could be used to test distributed video sensor networks. Our ultimate goals are to build statistical models of pedestrian density and flows at a number of urban locations and to correlate those flows with population movement and density models represented in a spatiotemporal modeling system. In order to create known populace flows, we have built a virtual populace simulation system, called CAROSA, which permits the authoring of functional crowds of people going about role-, context-, and schedule-dependent activities. The capabilities and authoring tools for these functional crowd simulations are described with the intention of readily creating ground truth data for distributed sensor system design and evaluation.
A Constant-Factor Approximation Algorithm for thek-MST Problem

Given an undirected graph with nonnegative edge costs and an integerk, thek-MST problem is that of finding a tree of minimum cost onknodes. This problem is known to be NP-hard. We present a simple approximation algorithm that finds a solution whose cost is less than 17 times the cost of the optimum. This improves upon previous performance ratios for this problem ?O(k) due to Raviet al.,O(log2k) due to Awerbuchet al., and the previous best bound ofO(logk) due to Rajagopalan and Vazirani. Given any 0<?<1, we first present a bicriteria approximation algorithm that outputs a tree onp??kvertices of total cost at most 2pL/(1??)k, whereLis the cost of the optimalk-MST. The running time of the algorithm isO(n2log2n) on ann-node graph. We then show how to use this algorithm to derive a constant factor approximation algorithm for thek-MST problem. The main subroutine in our algorithm is an approximation algorithm of Goemans and Williamson for the prize-collecting Steiner tree problem.
Bromine-80m-labeled estrogens: Auger electron-emitting, estrogen receptor-directed ligands with potential for therapy of estrogen receptor-positive cancers.

To assess their possible use for estrogen receptor (ER)-directed radio-therapy of estrogen receptor-containing cancers, two estrogens were synthesized with the Auger electron-emitting nuclide bromine-80m and administered to immature female rats. Both the triphenylethylene-based estrogen, [80mBr]-2-bromo-1,1-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phenylethylene (Br-BHPE) and the steroidal estrogen [80mBr]17α-bromovinylestradiol, showed substantial diethylstilbestrol-inhibitable localization only in the estrogen target tissues, the uterus, pituitary, ovaries, and vagina and, except for the liver and intestines, generally lower concentrations in all other tissues at both 0.5 and 2 h. The [80mBr]Br-BHPE (specific activity, 8700 Ci/mmol), was shown to bind specifically to the low salt extractable ER of the rat uterus. Comparing i.p., i.v., and s.c. administration of [80mBr]BHPE the i.p. route was found to be particularly advantageous to effect maximum, DES-inhibitable concentrations of radiobromine in the ER-rich target organs in the peritoneal cavity. When the tissue distribution of the [80mBr]Br-BHPE was compared with that of sodium bromide-80m, it was apparent that no substantial amounts of radiobromine were released from the bromoestrogen prior to its target tissue localization. The substantial concentration of these bromine-80m-labeled estrogens in ER-rich tissues, combined with previously reported evidence for the effective radiotoxicity of Auger electron-emitting nuclides within cell nuclei suggest a good potential for such ligands for therapy of ER positive cancers.
Hemagglutinins: Primitive Receptor Molecules Operative in Invertebrate Defense Mechanisms *

In recent years those of us who hold an interest in comparative immunology have witnessed an increased emphasis in deciphering the molecular events operative in invertebrate defense mechanisms. Our own efforts have centered mainly on the role of various hemolymph factors in invertebrate immunity, and whether these factors bear any relationship to components of vertebrate immune mechanisms. From our studies and those of others, there exists several lines of evidence that: (1) hemagglutinins (HA) represent primitive receptor molecules operative in the immune mechanism of invertebrates, and (2) the hemagglutinins of several key invertebrate species are related chemically. In addition, HA is apparently related to other hemolymph factors such as inducible bactericides, naturally occurring hemolysins, and clotting factors. Thus, in this presentation, we would like to present a unifying concept of how these molecules with seemingly diverse functions may be related, and how they may have evolved from a common ancestral gene. We will also question whether analogies exist between invertebrate hemolymph factors and the immunoglobulins, complement and clotting systems of vertebrates. Admittedly, much will be speculative. However, if one closely peruses the literature, tersely reviewed here, it may be obvious that many of our conclusions have substance.
Serum interleukin-6 levels correlate with prognosis in diffuse large-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSEInterleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that may have pathogenetic and prognostic significance in a number of disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and phenotypic characteristics, as well as outcome of patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL).PATIENTS AND METHODSUsing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; lower limit of sensitivity, 0.35 pg/mL), we measured IL-6 levels in frozen sera from 33 healthy controls and 58 untreated patients with DLCL who were enrolled onto a single combination chemotherapy protocol. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features at diagnosis and with failure-free and overall survival.RESULTSSerum IL-6 levels in the lymphoma patients (median, 4.37 pg/mL; range, < 0.35 to 110 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in the control group (median, < 0.35 pg/mL; range, < 0.35 to 1.87 pg/mL) (P < .0001). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with B symptoms (P =...
"Switched-on" flexible chalcogenopyrylium photosensitizers. Changes in photophysical properties upon binding to DNA.

2,4-Bis(4-dimethylaminophenyl)-6-alkylthiopyrylium and selenopyrylium dyes are essentially nonfluorescent (φF < 0.001) and are poor generators of singlet oxygen in aqueous solution. However, upon complexation to calf thymus DNA, quantum yields for both fluorescence and generation of singlet oxygen increased dramatically. Irradiation of the dye−DNA complexes produced strand breaks in the DNA. The photodamage is not observed in the absence of oxygen and is suppressed by the addition of the singlet oxygen quencher imidazole. The inactivation of the pseudo-rabies virus upon treatment of oxygenated leukodepleted 20% hematocrit red blood cell suspensions with the chalcogenopyrylium dyes and light followed the same trend observed with quantum yields for the generation of singlet oxygen in the dye−DNA complexes.
Miniature dipole E-field probes for characterizing both phase and amplitude of microwave radiators for hyperthermia.

This paper describes a system for characterizing the electric field patterns of microwave radiators in lossy media, in particular, of those used in hyperthermia treatments for cancer therapy. We discuss the design, fabrication and testing of small, minimally-perturbing electric field probes which are capable of measuring both amplitude and phase. An appropriate test configuration for mapping field patterns radiating from hyperthermia applicators (antennae) also is described. The system was developed specifically for the evaluation of applicators centered at 434 MHz and 915 MHz
ATR and a Chk1-Aurora B pathway coordinate postmitotic genome surveillance with cytokinetic abscission

Aurora B regulates cytokinesis timing and plays a central role in the abscission checkpoint. Cellular events monitored by this checkpoint are beginning to be elucidated, yet signaling pathways upstream of Aurora B in this context remain poorly understood. Here we reveal a new connection between postmitotic genome surveillance and cytokinetic abscission. Underreplicated DNA lesions are known to be transmitted through mitosis and protected in newly formed nuclei by recruitment of 53BP1 and other proteins until repair takes place. We find that this genome surveillance initiates before completion of cytokinesis. Elevating replication stress increases this postmitotic process and delays cytokinetic abscission by keeping the abscission checkpoint active. We further find that ATR activity in midbody-stage cells links postmitotic genome surveillance to abscission timing and that Chk1 integrates this and other signals upstream of Aurora B to regulate when the final step in the physical separation of daughter cells occurs.
Enabling the legally blind in classroom note-taking

Classroom note-taking has been shown to be beneficial, even if the student never reviews his/her own notes. Students that are legally blind are thus at a disadvantage because they face significant barriers to note-taking in the classroom. This presentation demonstrates a working prototype of the CUbiC Note Taker, which is a highly portable device that allows students who are legally blind to take their own notes in class without any special in-classroom accommodations, and without requiring lecturers to adapt their presentation in any way.