cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of implementation of integrated intervention on the potential endemic areas of schistosomiasis

Objective To investigate the mode of control of schistosomiasis infection of the local inhabitants in the Three Gorges Reservoir areas so as to provide the evidence for setting up the surveillance scheme of schistosomiasis prevention and control. Methods Two demonstration sites were selected for the integrated control of schistosomiasis in Wanzhou district. The strategies included the launching of health education, and analysis of environmental and social factors. Results After the health education intervention,the scores of schistosomiasis knowledge were substantially increased.The percentage of resident and student having the passing score was 86.3%(392/454) and 87.2%(232/266), respectively. The pass rate was significantly better than before the intervention..Microbial and sensory index in drinking water samples were declined, superscale rate of total viable count of bacteria in sample water between before and after the water-improving were 86.5% (173/200) and 20.0% (20/100), microbiological standard rate decreased significantly. Intestinal nematodes infection rate was 31.5% (63/200) before and 14.5% (29/200) after the comprehensive intervention. Conclusion The comprehensive intervention method could increase the awareness of residents.The risk of schistomisasis transmission was reduced after implementation of the disease control measures.
The Regularity Problem in Rough Subdomains of Riemannian Manifolds

Let \(\mathcal{M}\) be a Riemannian manifold and suppose \(\varOmega \subset \mathcal{M}\) is a regular SKT domain. In this setting, we prove the well-posedness of the Regularity boundary value problem for the Laplace–Beltrami operator associated with the metric on \(\mathcal{M}\), with boundary data from the L p -based Sobolev space of order one on ∂ Ω. This is achieved using potential theoretic methods and complements work in [HoMiTa10], where the Dirichlet problem has been treated.
Twin ADSP2101 architecture for teleconferencing applications

The advent of digital signal processors has given new life to signal processing techniques. Many of these techniques are now a reality in real-time. The mathematical complexity of the algorithms decides the need for fixed or floating point architecture. The fixed-point DSPs offer cost-effective hardware at the expense of some accuracy. Though floating-point DSPs handle complex algorithms, the size of the hardware forbids its application in portable equipment. Recently, numerous digital signal processing algorithms have been developed for better performance. These algorithms demand more processing power for real-time implementation. With this in view, a twin fixed-point DSP architecture has been developed to meet the complex processing needs; it serves as a low-cost competitor for any floating-point architecture. The paper explains the hardware scheme and presents a teleconferencing application, using multi-rate filtering techniques. Some of the experimental results obtained on the hardware are also discussed.
Closed-Loop Deep Brain Stimulation Effects on Parkinsonian Motor Symptoms in a Non-Human Primate - Is Beta Enough?

Abstract Background Incorporating feedback controls based on real-time measures of pathological brain activity may improve deep brain stimulation (DBS) approaches for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Excessive beta oscillations in subthalamic nucleus (STN) local field potentials (LFP) have been proposed as a potential biomarker for closed-loop DBS (CL-DBS). Objective In a non-human primate PD model we compared CL-DBS, which delivered stimulation only when STN LFP beta activity was elevated, to traditional continuous DBS (tDBS). Methods Therapeutic effects of CL-DBS and tDBS relative to the Off-DBS condition were evaluated via a clinical rating scale and objective measures of movement speed during a cued reaching task. Results CL-DBS was comparable to tDBS at reducing rigidity, while reducing the amount of time DBS was on by ≈50%; however, only tDBS improved bradykinesia during the reaching behavior. This was likely due to reach-related reductions in beta amplitude that influence the timing and duration of stimulation in the CL-DBS condition. Conclusion These results illustrate the potential utility of closed-loop DBS devices for PD based on STN beta LFP levels. They also point to possible consequences in behavioral tasks when restricting real-time sensing to a single LFP frequency that itself is modulated during performance of such tasks. The present study provides data that suggest alternate algorithms or more than one physiological biomarker may be required to optimize the performance of behavioral tasks and demonstrates the value of using multiple objective measures when evaluating the efficacy of closed-loop DBS systems.
Amnestic Confusional Phenomena, Hippocampal Stimulation, and Laterality Factors

The association between hippocampal function and phenomena of consciousness is usually indirectly inferred, i.e., through clinicopathological observations, in contrast to direct laboratory observations, of the involvement of limbic structures in seizures and seizure related disorders of consciousness in man. Equally, the association between hippocampal functions and memory is usually inferred through observations of memory impairment in man with hippocampal damage (Grunthal, 1947; Glees and Griffith, 1952). However, direct or experimental evidence of these associations is, understandably, rare in man. Only through the utilization of opportunities provided by legitimate diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, such as depth implantation for electrical recording and stimulation of epileptic patients with uncontrollable seizures considered for neurosurgery, can such evidence be obtained (Penfield and Jasper, 1954; Bickford et al., 1958). The following chapter deals first with background data relevant to the quest, then presents direct evidence of the experimental type mentioned above and finally discusses the implications of the evidence for cerebral lateralization and clinical syndromes of the literature.
Nine to Five: How Gender, Sex, and Sexuality Continue to Define the American Workplace

Nine to Five provides a lively and accessible introduction to the laws and policies regulating sex, sexuality, and gender identity in the American workplace. Contemporary cases and events reveal the breadth and persistence of sexism and gender stereotyping. Through a series of essays organized around sex discrimination, sexual harassment, pregnancy discrimination, and pay equity, the book highlights legal rules and doctrines that privilege men over women and masculinity over femininity. In understanding the law - what it forbids, what it allows, and to what it turns a blind eye - we see why it is far too soon to declare the triumph of working women's equality. Despite significant gains for women, gender continues to define the work experience in both predictable and surprising ways. A witty and engaging guide to the legal terrain, Nine to Five also proposes solutions to the many obstacles that remain on the path to equality.
The Informal Politics of Central Asia: From Brezhnev through Gorbachev

“Which leaders were the best for your country?” “Brezhnev and Rashidov.” Conversation with a former kolkhoz chairman, Andijan, 2000 In the mid-1990s, I was surprised to learn from Central Asian colleagues that Leonid Brezhnev, the stolid-faced Soviet leader known for sending political prisoners to psychiatric wards even long after the death of Stalin, was actually quite popular in these republics. This was not because he had converted most Kyrgyz or Tajiks to Leninism and scientific atheism, but because he more or less left them alone. And leaving them alone allowed many in these republics to prosper. So what happened to clans under the later decades of Soviet rule, when mature socialism allegedly finished the task of modernizing Central Asia and therefore should have eradicated clan identities and networks? Not only Brezhnev, but also many Western scholars and policy makers and Central Asians themselves, argued that the Soviet Union had successfully modernized the USSR. First, this chapter, building on Chapter 3, argues instead that despite, or perhaps because of , the contradictions of Soviet modernization, clans adapted and survived. Brezhnev's policies reinforced and further entrenched the clan networks that had persisted during the very early decades of Soviet rule. Thus, Soviet policies “modernized” clans, by driving them underground and linking them with corruption, mafioso activities, and the second economy, but did not seriously attempt to eradicate them. Soviet policies furthermore gave some clans greater access to state and party resources.
A Sea of Change: Biogeochemical Variability in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

The North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) is the largest ecosystem on our planet. However, this expansive habitat is also remote, poorly sampled, and therefore not well understood. For example, the most abundant oxygenic phototroph in the NPSG, Prochlorococcus, was described only a decade ago. Other novel Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya, recently identified by nucleic acid sequence analysis, have not been isolated. In October 1988, an ocean time-series research program was established to study ecosystem processes in the gyre, including rates and pathways of carbon and energy flow, spatial and temporal scales of variability, and coupling of ocean physics to biogeochemical processes. After a decade of ecosystem surveillance, this sentinel observatory has produced an unprecedented data set and some new views of an old ocean. Foremost is evidence for dramatic changes in microbial community structure and in mechanisms of nutrient cycling in response to large-scale ocean–atmosphere interactions. These and other observations demand reassessment of current views of physical-biogeochemical processes in this and other open-ocean ecosystems.
WhaleWatch: a dynamic management tool for predicting blue whale density in the California Current

Summary Management of highly migratory species is reliant on spatially and temporally explicit information on their distribution and abundance. Satellite telemetry provides time-series data on individual movements. However, these data are underutilized in management applications in part because they provide presence-only information rather than abundance information such as density. Eastern North Pacific blue whales are listed as threatened, and ship strikes have been suggested as a key factor limiting their recovery. Here, we developed a satellite-telemetry-based habitat model in a case–control design for Eastern North Pacific blue whales Balaenoptera musculus that was combined with previously published abundance estimates to predict habitat preference and densities. Further, we operationalize an automated, near-real-time whale density prediction tool based on up-to-date environmental data for use by managers and other stakeholders. A switching state-space movement model was applied to 104 blue whale satellite tracks from 1994 to 2008 to account for errors in the location estimates and provide daily positions (case points). We simulated positions using a correlated random walk model (control points) and sampled the environment at each case and control point. Generalized additive mixed models and boosted regression trees were applied to determine the probability of occurrence based on environmental covariates. Models were used to predict 8-day and monthly resolution, year-round density estimates scaled by population abundance estimates that provide a critical tool for understanding seasonal and interannual changes in habitat use. The telemetry-based habitat model predicted known blue whale hot spots and had seasonal agreement with sightings data, highlighting the skill of the model for predicting blue whale habitat preference and density. We identified high interannual variability in occurrence emphasizing the benefit of dynamic models compared to multiyear averages. Synthesis and applications. This near-real-time tool allows a more accurate examination of the year-round spatio-temporal overlap of blue whales with potentially harmful human activities, such as shipping. This approach should also be applicable to other species for which sufficient telemetry data are available. The dynamic predictive product developed here is an important tool that allows managers to consider finer-scale management areas that are more economically feasible and socially acceptable.
Medical Implications of HIV Among Children and Adolescents

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the viral cycle of HIV, the impact of HIV on the immune system, and modes of HIV transmission. The clinical course and manifestations of pediatric HIV, distinguishing differences in course and manifestation between children born with HIV and those who acquire HIV later in adolescence or early adulthood, will be presented. Included in this chapter will be a review of the progression of HIV from the time of infection to the development of symptoms as well as staging for HIV/AIDS. Clinical practice guidelines will be described as well as the latest research on antiretroviral treatment. Finally, information will be presented about HIV vaccine research.
Engineering bacterial thiosulfate and tetrathionate sensors for detecting gut inflammation

There is a groundswell of interest in using genetically engineered sensor bacteria to study gut microbiota pathways, and diagnose or treat associated diseases. Here, we computationally identify the first biological thiosulfate sensor and an improved tetrathionate sensor, both two‐component systems from marine Shewanella species, and validate them in laboratory Escherichia coli . Then, we port these sensors into a gut‐adapted probiotic E. coli strain, and develop a method based upon oral gavage and flow cytometry of colon and fecal samples to demonstrate that colon inflammation (colitis) activates the thiosulfate sensor in mice harboring native gut microbiota. Our thiosulfate sensor may have applications in bacterial diagnostics or therapeutics. Finally, our approach can be replicated for a wide range of bacterial sensors and should thus enable a new class of minimally invasive studies of gut microbiota pathways. ![][1] A sensor bacterium that uses a novel two‐component signaling system is engineered to detect thiosulfate and colon inflammation. This work suggests thiosulfate as a novel biomarker of colon inflammation and demonstrates the potential of engineered bacteria in disease diagnostics. Mol Syst Biol. (2017) 13: 923 [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Photochemical Production of Ethane from an Iridium Methyl Complex

An iridium methyl complex, [Cp*Ir(bpy)(CH3)]+, was prepared by electrophilic methylation of Cp*Ir(bpy) with CH3I and characterized electrochemically, photophysically, crystallographically, and computationally. Irradiation of the MLCT transition of [Cp*Ir(bpy)(CH3)]+ in the presence of CH3I in acetonitrile produces ethane, methane, propionitrile, and succinonitrile. A series of mechanistic studies indicates that C–C bond formation is mediated by free methyl radicals produced through monometallic photochemical homolysis of the Ir–CH3 bond.
Improving Radiology Workflow with Automated Examination Tracking and Alerts.

The modern radiology workflow is a production line where imaging examinations pass in sequence through many steps. In busy clinical environments, even a minor delay in any step can propagate through the system and significantly lengthen the examination process. This is particularly true for the tasks delegated to the human operators, who may be distracted or stressed. We have developed an application to track examinations through a critical part of the workflow, from the image-acquisition scanners to the PACS archive. Our application identifies outliers and actively alerts radiology managers about the need to resolve these problems as soon as they happen. In this study, we investigate how this real-time tracking and alerting affected the speed of examination delivery to the radiologist. We demonstrate that active alerting produced a 3-fold reduction of examination-to-PACS delays. Additionally, we discover an overall improvement in examination-to-PACS delivery, evidence that the tracking and alerts instill a culture where timely processing is essential. By providing supervisors with information about exactly where delays emerge in their workflow and alerting the correct staff to take action, applications like ours create more robust radiology workflow with predictable, timely outcomes.
American Imperialism and the State, 1893-1921

How did the acquisition of overseas colonies affect the development of the American state? How did the constitutional system shape the expansion and governance of American empire? American Imperialism and the State offers a new perspective on these questions by recasting American imperial governance as an episode of state building. Colin D. Moore argues that the empire was decisively shaped by the efforts of colonial state officials to achieve greater autonomy in the face of congressional obstruction, public indifference and limitations on administrative capacity. Drawing on extensive archival research, the book focuses principally upon four cases of imperial governance - Hawai'i, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic and Haiti - to highlight the essential tension between American mass democracy and imperial expansion.
Abstract 15152: A Novel Nlrp3 Inflammasome Inhibitor Prevents Acute Pericarditis in an Experimental Mouse Model

Introduction: Acute pericarditis is characterized by inflammation of the pericardial layers. It responds to treatment with colchicine, an anti-inflammatory drug known to interfere with the formation of the NOD-Like receptor type 3 protein (NLRP3) inflammasome. Hypothesis: Administration of a novel NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, derived from glyburide, decreases pericardial inflammation in a mouse model of acute pericarditis. Methods: We induced acute pericarditis by injecting zymosan A, a yeast-derived activator of the NLRP3 inflammasome (1 mg in 50 μl of NaCl 0.9%), in the pericardial sac of CD-1 male mice, using a 30-gauge needle. An equivalent volume of vehicle was used in the control group. The NLRP3 inhibitor (NLRP3inh, 100 mg/kg, N=6) or colchicine (1000 or 100 μg/Kg, N=3) were administered by oral gavage once daily for 7 days in the zymosan-treated mice. Higher doses of colchicine (>1 mg/kg) were lethal. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed to evaluate pericardial effusion by measuring the dimension of the pericardial thickness and the effusion in M-mode and B-mode (Figure). Heart tissues were stained with hematoxylin/eosin to measure pericardial thickness, and immunofluorescence staining for the inflammasome scaffold protein ASC and cardiac actin, was performed in order to evaluate inflammasome formation within the pericardial layers. Results: Intrapericardial instillation of zymosan produced a significantly greater pericardial effusion, thickening, and inflammation when compared with vehicle (all P Conclusions: Inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome using a novel inhibitor significantly reduces pericardial inflammation in experimental acute pericarditis in the mouse.
NATRIURETIC PEPTIDES AS PREDICTIVE BIOMARKERS OF TREATMENT RESPONSE IN CLINICAL TRIALS OF HEART FAILURE

The lack of reliable predictors of efficacy of HF drugs and devices has presented a major hurdle to the evaluation of novel therapies. We explore whether short-term treatment-related changes in natriuretic peptides (NP) predict long-term therapeutic effects using a) patient-level data from PARADIGM
Genetic Engineering in Coryneform Bacteria

Recently, we have established recombinant DNA technology for Corynebacterium glutamicum. Recent advances in the molecular biology of the phenylalanine biosynthetic pathway will be presented. Specifics include the gene sequence for prephenate dehydratase and findings about promoter structure and function. In addition, the utility of a recently isolated C. glutamicum restriction minus strain will be demonstrated and discussed.
International Trade, Investment, and American Cities And Regions

In this chapter I set out some working hypotheses about the role of cities in today’s changing international division of labour (IDOL), within the context of more general structural change1. In doing so, I examine the complex ways in which cities have evolved over time, how they are centres for political and economic struggle, and how public policies affect metropolises.
Genetics, Hormones, and Aggression

It has been proposed (Brain, 1979a,b; Moyer, 1968, 1976) that there are several types of aggression that differ in response patterns, stimulus conditions, and physiological mechanisms. Genetic (Lagerspetz & Lagerspetz, 1975; Maxson, 1981; Scott, 1966; Scott & Fredericson, 1951; Simon, 1979) and hormonal (see reviews in this volume) influences on most if not all of these types of aggression have been studied in one or more vertebrate species. However, the intersection of genetic and hormonal factors has been explored primarily for androgens and intermale aggression in mice (Mus musculus). This review will consider the evidence that some gene effects on the expression and/or development of intermale aggression are mediated, at least in part, by androgens.
Química: ¿Quién eres, a dónde vas y cómo te alcanzamos?

La reflexion sobre las areas y temas de investigacion que probablemente se convertiran en el centro de atencion de los quimicos en el siglo XXI tiene relevancia desde la perspectiva educativa por diversos motivos. Por un lado, nos permite analizar y evaluar el curriculo de quimica actual con base en su relevancia e impacto potencial en la formacion de individuos con la capacidad de participar en el desarrollo de la Quimica en el futuro o de comprender la naturaleza y el impacto social, economico y ambiental de tales desarrollos. Por otro, nos puede dar ideas sobre el tipo de conocimientos y habilidades que debemos desarrollar en nuestros estudiantes para que puedan participar de manera informada, critica y activa en las sociedades del siglo XXI.
A scalable solution strategy for high-order stabilized finite-element solvers using an implicit line preconditioner

Abstract This paper presents a robust, efficient, and strongly scalable solution methodology for simulation of complex turbulent flows on unstructured grids. The compressible Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations and the negative Spalart–Allmaras (SA) turbulence model are discretized, in coupled form, using a Streamline Upwind Petrov–Galerkin (SUPG) scheme. The time integration is fully implicit, and the discretized equations are advanced towards a steady-state solution using a pseudo-transient continuation (PTC). For solution of the linearized systems, a preconditioned Krylov solver is used. Seeking robustness, Krylov solvers are commonly preconditioned using incomplete factorization methods such as ILU(k). However, these methods are neither memory efficient, nor strongly scalable. To provide a better alternative, the implicit line solution method, which has been traditionally used in finite-volume methods, is revised and enhanced to solve stiffer linear systems. In the developed method, the lines are generated using a matrix-based approach, which connects the strongly-coupled unknowns. In addition, to improve the robustness of the line solver for high-CFL systems, a dual-CFL strategy, with a lower CFL number in the preconditioner matrix, is developed. Also, it is shown that for high-order continuous finite-element discretizations, the interconnections of the degrees of freedom on a line form a banded matrix which is wider than tridiagonal, but still can be factorized completely without generating any fill-ins. The developed line preconditioner is strongly scalable and, in contrast to the ILU factorization, its convergence behavior does not depend on the number of partitions. Two three-dimensional numerical examples are presented in which the performance of the line preconditioner is compared with that of the ILU(k) preconditioner. This comparison shows that, in addition to robustness improvements, the line preconditioner offers significant benefits in terms of memory efficiency.
GHz Ultrasonic Digital to Analog Converter for Wavefront Signal Processing

In this paper a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) based on the propagation of ultrasonic waves in silicon is presented. AlN piezoelectric transducers on a silicon substrate are used to launch the ultrasonic pulses that propagate through the silicon and add coherently at a receiver transducer. The AlN transducer is actuated in the the thickness mode resonance frequency of 1.08GHz. The transmit transducer is formed into concentric rings which are binary weighted in area. The far field pressure magnitude is proportional to the transducer area. As a result, the sensed pressure from the binary-weighted rings is also binary weighted. A 4-bit version of the ultrasonic DAC is tested. The DAC has a resolution of 2.7mV., a range of 43 mV., DNL of 0.5 and INL of 0.4. The proposed DAC allows for controlling the ultrasonic wave amplitude without the need for large area., high power CMOS DAC. This device is useful for signal processing applications like computing 2D Fourier transform using ultrasonic wave propagation.
Interweaving a Mindfully Somatic Pedagogy into an Early Childhood Classroom.

There has been considerable distress in early childhood classrooms due to a cultural bias of Cartesian dualism, which has led to the bullying and disappearance of Body in education. Efforts of brin...
PMI reduced-risk claims and upselling of IQOS via Reviti life insurance.

Reviti Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Philip Morris International (PMI), incorporated 5 July 2018, sells life insurance in the UK, with plans to expand into other markets.1 Incentivising smokers to switch to PMI’s heated tobacco product IQOS, Reviti generated media attention.1 2 The advertised discounts on Reviti’s premiums average 50% for smokers who quit tobacco and nicotine altogether for over a year, 25% for smokers who switch to IQOS for >3 months, and 2.5% for those who use e-cigarettes. The relative discounts on premiums imply that switching to IQOS is 10 times healthier than using e-cigarettes. Further, Reviti offers the e-cigarette discount only at policy inception, with no switching incentive; and notably omits a discount for nicotine replacement therapies. Reviti’s website claims IQOS is the only available ‘science-backed smoke-free alternative’ (figure 1). Unacknowledged is that the evidence for IQOS derives exclusively from PMI-funded research, and that the company’s human studies fail to show consistently lower levels of some toxins for IQOS relative to conventional cigarettes.3 4 Figure 1 Reviti's upsell of IQOS as the only science-backed smoke-free alternative. IQOS is sold in >40 countries and banned in Australia, Hong Kong, …
Quantitative Chiroptical Sensing of Free Amino Acids, Biothiols, Amines, and Amino Alcohols with an Aryl Fluoride Probe

The comprehensive determination of the absolute configuration, enantiomeric ratio, and total amount of standard amino acids by optical methods adaptable to high-throughput screening with modern plate readers has remained a major challenge to date. We now present a small-molecular probe that smoothly reacts with amino acids and biothiols in aqueous solution and thereby generates distinct chiroptical responses to accomplish this task. The achiral sensor is readily available, inexpensive, and suitable for chiroptical analysis of each of the 19 standard amino acids, biothiols, aliphatic, and aromatic amines and amino alcohols. The sensing method is operationally simple, and data collection and processing are straightforward. The utility and practicality of the assay are demonstrated with the accurate analysis of 10 aspartic acid samples covering a wide concentration range and largely varying enantiomeric compositions. Accurate er sensing of 85 scalemic samples of Pro, Met, Cys, Ala, methylpyrrolidine, 1-(2-naphthyl)amine, and mixtures thereof is also presented.
Metabolic Imaging and Biological Assessment: Platforms to Evaluate Acute Lung Injury and Inflammation

Pulmonary inflammation is a hallmark of several pulmonary disorders including acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Moreover, it has been shown that patients with hyperinflammatory phenotype have a significantly higher mortality rate. Despite this, current therapeutic approaches focus on managing the injury rather than subsiding the inflammatory burden of the lung. This is because of the lack of appropriate non-invasive biomarkers that can be used clinically to assess pulmonary inflammation. In this review, we discuss two metabolic imaging tools that can be used to non-invasively assess lung inflammation. The first method, Positron Emission Tomography (PET), is widely used in clinical oncology and quantifies flux in metabolic pathways by measuring uptake of a radiolabeled molecule into the cells. The second method, hyperpolarized 13C MRI, is an emerging tool that interrogates the branching points of the metabolic pathways to quantify the fate of metabolites. We discuss the differences and similarities between these techniques and discuss their clinical applications.
Objective Structured Clinical Examination Skill Station Is Effective for Assessing Acute Opioid Overdose Resuscitation.

Introduction In recent decades, deaths related to heroin, illicit fentanyl, and prescription opioids have risen in the United States. Utilizing new clinical guidelines and non-prescription naloxone, we aimed to develop a competency-based assessment for clinical skills in opioid overdose resuscitation outside of the hospital setting. Methods An assessment of opioid resuscitation skills, consisting of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) skill station-utilizing a simulation mannequin and a standardized patient portraying the patient's relative-followed by a facilitated individual debrief, was added to the fourth year Psychiatry Boot Camp for students entering a psychiatry residency. A survey was given to students to assess the OSCE's believability, value, and impact on confidence in managing out-of-hospital overdose. Results Following the OSCE, 2017-2019 graduating students entering a psychiatry residency (N=10) all agreed or strongly agreed that the OSCE "was realistic and believable" and "was valuable as an educational tool. Most either agreed (N=7) or strongly agreed (N=1) they felt confident of their skill in managing out-of-hospital opioid overdose. A small number (n=2) were neutral in the confidence of their skill in managing out-of-hospital opioid overdose. Discussion Based on early medical student feedback (n=10), this OSCE skill station provides a promising competency-based assessment for opioid overdose resuscitation outside of the hospital setting. Its use could be expanded to other medical disciplines in undergraduate and graduate education.
Analysis of faceted solidification in the horizontal ribbon growth crystallization process

Abstract Horizontal ribbon growth (HRG), in which a thin sheet of solidified material is pulled horizontally from the surface of a molten pool, is proposed as an efficient technique for growth of single-crystal silicon sheets. Despite recent results, some details of the process are still not understood, in particular the solidification mechanism at the triple junction point (TJP) where the solid, the liquid, and the surrounding gas meet. The solidification mechanism in the HRG process is investigated in this paper both analytically and numerically, incorporating the solidification kinetics that lead to faceted growth. The conventional solid–liquid problem in the HRG process is formulated analytically in the vicinity of the triple junction point (TJP). The temperature distribution is obtained for the liquid and solid regions as a function of the underlying parameters of the HRG process, such as the material properties, the ribbon pull speed, and the cooling heat fluxes. Using the analytical results, the TJP temperature, the facet length, interfacial temperature gradients, and liquid supercooling can be predicted. The analytical formulation is validated against accurate numerical simulations of the same problem, showing a good agreement in predicting the temperature gradients and the facet growth. The findings of this study suggest that using the analytical model, the behavior of the solid ribbon and the existence of a supercooled region in the liquid in the HRG process can be predicted without the need for numerical simulations. The model also gives criteria for optimal performance of the HRG process.
A multimodal imaging system for label-free parathyroid gland identification and vascularity assessment

Hypoparathyroidism is a major complication after thyroid surgery, due to damage to healthy parathyroid glands. Near infrared autofluorescence imaging and laser speckle contrast imaging have been shown to address the two causes of parathyroid function loss – accidental removal, and damage to the parathyroid blood supply respectively. Here, we present an instrument that combines both techniques to enable intraoperative parathyroid identification and viability assessment in real-time and without the need for contrast agents. The performance of the device was evaluated intraoperatively in patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy.
Field Test of a Passive Infrared Camera for Measuring Trail-Based Physical Activity.

Introduction: Trails are ubiquitous and far-reaching, but research on the impact trails have on physical activity is limited by the lack of resource-efficient, accurate, and practical systematic observation tools. Commonly used infrared trail sensors count trail use and may broadly differentiate activity (i.e., bicyclist vs. pedestrian), but cannot detect nuances needed for outcomes research such as frequency, intensity, time, and type of activity. Motion-activated passive infrared cameras (PICs), used in ecological research and visitor management in wildlife areas, have potential applicability as a systematic observation data collection tool. Materials and Methods: We conducted a 7-month field test of a PIC as a systematic observation data collection tool on a hiking trail, using photos to identify each trail user's physical activity type, age, sex, and other characteristics. We also tallied hourly trail use counts from the photos, using Bland-Altman plots, paired t-tests, Concordance Correlation Coefficient, Kendall's Tau-b, and a novel inter-counter reliability measure to test concordance against concurrent hourly counts from an infrared sensor. Results: The field test proved informative, providing photos of 2,447 human users of the trail over 4,974 h of data collection. Nearly all of the users were walkers (94.0%) and most were male (69.2%). More of the males used the trail alone (44.8%) than did females (29.8%). Concordance was strong between instruments (p 0 on either device (14.0%; 694 h). Discussion: The study's findings highlight the benefits of using PICs to track trail user characteristics despite the needs to further refine best practices for image coding, camera location, and settings. More widespread field use is limited by the extensive amount of time required to code photos and the need to validate the PICs as a trail use counter. The future potential of PICs as a trail-specific PA research and management tool is discussed.
Review of patient-reported outcomes in periprosthetic distal femur fractures after total knee arthroplasty: a plate or intramedullary nail?

This study reviewed the literature regarding the patient-reported treatment outcomes of using either open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a plate and screw system or intramedullary nail (IMN) fixation for periprosthetic distal femur fractures around a total knee arthroplasty. A total of 13 studies published in the last 20 years met the inclusion criteria. The studies included 347 patients who were allocated to ORIF (n = 249) and IMN (n = 98) groups according to the implants used. The primary outcome measures were the Knee Society Score or the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index. The secondary outcome measures included knee range of motion and the rates of complications, including non-union, malunion, infection, revision total knee arthroplasty, and reoperation. Statistical significance was set at P 0.05); the malunion rates were 1.8 and 7.5%, respectively (P 0.05); the reoperation rates were 9.6 and 5.1%, respectively (P > 0.05); and revision rates of total knee arthroplasty were 2 and 1%, respectively (P > 0.05). Based on the patient-reported outcome assessments, both ORIF with a plate and screw system and IMN fixation are well-accepted techniques for periprosthetic distal femur fractures around a TKA, and they produce similar functional outcomes.
Influence of Implantation Depth on the Performance of Intracortical Probe Recording Sites

Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) enable the recording of electrical activity from cortical neurons which has implications for basic neuroscience and neuroprosthetic applications. The design space for MEA technology is extremely wide where devices may vary with respect to the number of monolithic shanks as well as placement of microelectrode sites. In the present study, we examine the differences in recording ability between two different MEA configurations: single shank (SS) and multi-shank (MS), both of which consist of 16 recording sites implanted in the rat motor cortex. We observed a significant difference in the proportion of active microelectrode sites over the 8-week indwelling period, in which SS devices exhibited a consistent ability to record activity, in contrast to the MS arrays which showed a marked decrease in activity within 2 weeks post-implantation. Furthermore, this difference was revealed to be dependent on the depth at which the microelectrode sites were located and may be mediated by anatomical heterogeneity, as well as the distribution of inhibitory neurons within the cortical layers. Our results indicate that the implantation depth of microelectrodes within the cortex needs to be considered relative to the chronic performance characterization.
The geographic reach of community-based organizations in addressing HIV-related stigma in the Deep South.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) have been instrumental in addressing the needs of people living with HIV, however, little is known about their efforts to address HIV-related stigma through stigma reduction efforts. This study examined practices of CBOs related to mitigating HIV-related stigma in nine Deep South states. CBOs were surveyed as part of a larger study through the Gilead COMPASS Initiative. The CBO survey asked CBO leadership about stigma in their communities and services available to address this stigma. Survey respondents (n = 207) indicated that HIV-related stigma was perceived as a substantial barrier to both HIV care and CBO services. Although just over two-thirds of survey participants reported that there were group-level programs to address HIV-related stigma, 73% reported that there were not enough interventions to meet the need in their community. Further, 68% reported a lack of individual-level stigma reduction interventions. A majority reported a lack of public media campaigns to address stigma and a lack of training available to assist CBOs to address stigma. In addition, services to address stigma were reportedly less available in rural areas compared to their urban counterparts. Study findings indicate a need to identify, implement, and scale-up effective interventions to reduce HIV stigma in the US Deep South.
Electron probe microanalysis of the subcellular compartments of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Comparison of chromaffin granules in situ and in vitro.

The elemental and water content of cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and their secretory chromaffin granules have been measured and compared with isolated chromaffin granules using quick freezing, ultracryomicrotomy, and electron microprobe analysis methods. In units of millimole/kilogram dry weight (+/- S.E.) granules in situ contained: P, 523 +/- 32; K+, 124 +/- 9; S, 82 +/- 3; Cl-, 74 +/- 9; Ca2+, 13 +/- 2; Mg2+, 6 +/- 2; and Na+, -2 +/- 2. Following routine isolation in isotonic sucrose buffer, granule K and Cl- had decreased while granule Na+ increased. Cl- exhibited a consistent decrease to 35-40 mmol/kg dry weight. Granule Na+ and K+ concentrations ranged from 43 to 12 mmol/kg and 28 to 60 mmol/kg dry weight, respectively, depending on the Na+ and K+ content of the buffer. Despite the redistribution of monovalent ions, granule Ca2+, granule P, being in the form of ATP, and granule S, being in the form of protein, were not significantly changed. The stability of these elements is consistent with the existence of a stable storage complex for Ca2+, ATP, and protein. Using the granule as an internal standard with a water content of 66%, the water contents of external space, nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria were estimated to be 89, 88, 82, and 70%, respectively. Wet weight concentrations for each element were calculated for granules and cytoplasm from which the transgranular concentration gradients for K+, Cl-, and Na+ were determined. Cl-, a permeant anion, was 2-fold higher in the granule than in the cytoplasm while K+, a slightly permeant cation, had an opposite distribution ratio slightly less than two. Together, the K+ and Cl- data suggest the presence of an inside-positive granule membrane potential of approximately 10-16 mV. The surprising lack of Na+ from the granule matrix suggests a hugh inward gradient for Na+ even though the Na+ content of chromaffin cell cytoplasm is low at 5 mmol/kg water. The lack of an outward Na+ gradient is important in that it indicates that the previously described electroneutral Na+-Ca2+ exchange system, by which isolated granules accumulate Ca2+, does not operate in mature granules in situ. Consequently, if chromaffin granules regulate internal calcium during stimulus secretion coupling, a mechanism other that Na+-Ca2+ exchange is necessary.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells: Past, Present, and Future

Adult mesenchymal stromal cells are plastic-adherent cells that are self-renewing and have the capacity to differentiate into various tissue specific lineages. Stromal cells were initially discovered over 100 years ago and substantial insight into stromal cell identification, isolation, characterization, and differentiation has been made, including efforts to elucidate the factors involved in stromal cell differentiation. Stromal cells have immune privilege and thus are attractive candidates for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Positive results from a number of recent investigations support the use of adult mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical application. This review article provides a brief overview of past, present, and future stromal cell technology.
Oleoylethanolamide excites vagal sensory neurones, induces visceral pain and reduces short‐term food intake in mice via capsaicin receptor TRPV1

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) is an endogenous lipid that regulates feeding and body weight. Although the effects of OEA are believed to depend on activation of vagal sensory afferent neurones, the mechanisms involved in exciting these neurones are unclear. Here we show that OEA directly excited nodose ganglion neurones, the cell bodies of vagal afferents. OEA depolarized these neurones and evoked inward currents that were restricted to capsaicin-sensitive cells. These currents were fully blocked by the TRPV1 inhibitor, capsazepine, and no responses to OEA were observed in neurones cultured from TRPV1-null mice. Similarly, OEA induced a rise in Ca+ concentration in wild-type but not TRPV1-deficient neurones, and responses to OEA were greater at 37°C compared to room temperature. Significantly, OEA administration in mice induced visceral pain-related behaviours that were inhibited by capsazepine and absent in TRPV1-null animals. Further, OEA reduced 30-min food intake in wild-type but not in TRPV1-null mice. Thus, the acute behavioural effects of OEA may result from visceral malaise via the activation of TRPV1.
Ultrafast X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Summary form only given. Recently developed ultrafast laser-driven X-ray sources enable the observation of atomic motions in crystals and in solutions on the timescale of chemical bond formation and breakage. Using such a laboratory-based X-ray source the propagation of coherent phonon wave packets through GaAs(111) crystals after photo excitation has been imaged by ultrafast X-ray difraction. While ultrafast x-ray diffraction measures the structural dynamics of crystals, ultrafast extended x-ray absorption line structure (UEXAFS) can, in principle, measure the structural dynamics of atoms during a chemical process in solution.
The Evolutionary Status of Population II Cepheids

Schwarzschild and Harm (1970, hereafter abbreviated SH) have suggested that the presence of Cepheids in globular clusters can be explained by the occurrence of ‘flashes’ in the thermally unstable helium-burning shells of post-horizontal-branch, or ‘asymptotic-branch’ stars. These flashes in the deep interior of the star produce large changes in the energy flux at the base of the envelope, which in turn cause the position of the model in the M bol—logT e diagram to move. For most values of the total stellar mass and envelope composition studied by SH, the models simply moved up and down the asymptotic branch in response to a helium shell flash. However in a few cases, characterized by low total mass and a relatively high value of the envelope helium abundance, the models left the asymptotic branch and described loops extending into the region of pulsational instability. The Cepheids of Population II were thus tentatively identified by SH as asymptotic-branch stars that had recently undergone a helium shell flash and whose tracks were as a result describing a loop extending into the instability strip.
Computers in medicine: liability issues for physicians.

Physicians routinely use computers to store, access, and retrieve medical information. As computer use becomes even more widespread in medicine, failure to utilize information systems may be seen as a violation of professional custom and lead to findings of professional liability. Even when a technology is not widespread, failure to incorporate it into medical practice may give rise to liability if the technology is accessible to the physician and reduces risk to the patient. Improvement in the availability of medical information sources imposes a greater burden on the physician to keep current and to obtain informed consent from patients. To routinely perform computer-assisted literature searches for informed consent and diagnosis is ‘good medicine’.
Viruses Can Cause Disease in the Absence of Morphological Evidence of Cell Injury: Implication for Uncovering New Diseases in the Future

A virus can replicate in differentiated cells, thereby altering their ability to make specialized products such as endocrine hormones, neurotransmitters, and lymphokines. Systemically, the outcome can be an imbalance in homeostasis, resulting in diseases of the endocrine, nervous, immune, or other systems, frequently in the absence of detectable cell destruction.
Heterogeneity in the smoking behavior of African American women.

OBJECTIVE To assess the association between sociodemographic variables and smoking behavior patterns of African American women. METHODS Six years of data (N=14,903) from the National Health Interview Surveys were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS African American women in the South were more likely to never smoke and to start smoking later than women in the Northeast. Positive smoking outcomes (never smoking, initiating smoking at later ages, and quitting) were associated with higher education, higher income, and being married. CONCLUSIONS Variations among African American women suggest the need for targeting specific subgroups at greater risks to reduce disparities in smoking and smoking-related diseases.