cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integer Antiprisms and Integer Octahedra

Polyhedra Is it possible to find a rectangular box with integer dimensions and all diagonals of integer length as well? Such a box is referred to as a perfect box or a perfect rational cuboid and its existence or non-existence is an unsolved problem [4], [7]. An example of a box that is "almost" perfect has edges of length 44, 117, and 240, but one of the diagonals is irrational (see FIGURE 1). The goal of this paper is to introduce the reader to other types of three-dimensional figures with integer edges and diagonals. In particular, we will look at triangular antiprisms and a certain class of octahedra (see FIGURE 2). Accomplishing this goal, however, requires we first become familiar with prisms to understand antiprisms, with polyhedra to understand octahedra, and with all four of these terms to understand integer versions of any of them. For the purposes of this paper a polyhedron is a simple closed surface that can be expressed as the union of a finite set of polygonal regions, where any two polygons share at most one edge. The word polyhedron basically means many (poly) faces or planes (hedra).
Effects of advanced glycosylation end-products on NO production and nitric oxide synthase activity in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells

AIM and METHODS: The effects of advanced glycosylation end-products (AGEs) on nitric oxide (NO) production and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) were studied. RESULTS:AGEs decreased NO levels, however, significantly increased NOS activity in a dose and time dependent manner.CONCLUSION:Inhibition of NO production of AGEs be not contributed to the decrease of NOS activity.
The nursing administration of SARS patients in pediatrics

In admission of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients in children's hospital,there are different clinical features and nursing administration between adult and children.According to the psychopathologig of SARS and children's psychological features,we had established a series of methods in nursing administration step by step and gained good protective effect.
Green energy driven user association in cellular networks with dual battery system

Green communications has received much attention in recent years. In cellular networks, base stations (BSs) account for more than 50 percent of the energy consumption. Reducing energy consumption of BSs is essential to realizing green cellular networks. Utilizing green energy to power BSs is a promising way to reduce the on-grid energy consumption. Maximizing the utilization of green energy has thus been proposed to furthest save the on-grid energy. In this paper, we propose a green energy driven user-BS association with dual battery system to maximize the utilization of green energy at BSs. The BSs of cellular networks are powered by both on-grid energy and green energy. The optimal usage of green energy is achieved by balancing the mobile users among BSs according to the amount of residual green energy in their batteries. This green energy driven user association optimization problem is NP-hard. Hence, we propose some heuristics to maximize the green energy utilization and approximate the optimal user association with low computational complexity. Finally, we validate the performance of the proposed algorithm through extensive simulations.
Evolution of the Management of Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

In pancreatic cancer, as with many other solid tumors, a commonly held surgical adage—a chance to cut is a chance to cure—has been promulgated throughout the years. Following such reasoning, surgical extirpation of a localized tumor would prevent tumor dissemination and metastatic tumor progression. However, decades of surgical experience have demonstrated that surgical resection alone provides a limited median survival benefit. Despite the optimization of surgical technique and perioperative management over the past three decades, little progress has been made to improve the limited survival of patients with localized pancreatic cancer who receive surgery. In this article, we discuss the rationale for a novel management strategy for patients with resectable pancreatic cancer, which may improve patient selection and the delivery of multimodality therapy.
Incidence and outcomes of ventral hernia repair after robotic retropubic prostatectomy: A retrospective cohort of 570 consecutive cases

Abstract Background Robotic retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) has become one of the most commonly performed robotic procedures in the United States. Ventral hernia (VH) has been increasingly recognized as an important complication after laparoscopic procedures, in general. However, data related to VH after robotic procedures is relatively scarce, especially after RRP. With increasing popularity of RRP, the purpose of this study was to look at the incidence of VH and outcomes of ventral hernia repair (VHR) after RRP. Methods All patients who underwent RRP at a single institution between January 2012 and June 2014 were studied retrospectively using electronic medical records. Results A total of 570 patients underwent RRP, of which 33 (5.8%) developed VH during the study period. Fourteen (42%) patients were obese and five (15%) had diabetes. One patient (3%) had a surgical site infection after RRP and two (6%) patients were on immunomodulators/steroids. Median duration to develop VH after RRP was 12 (1–25) months. Out of the 33 patients with VH, ten (33%) underwent VHR; five laparoscopic and five open. Median size of hernia defect and mesh used was 25 (1–144) cm 2 and 181 (15–285) cm 2 , respectively. Median length of hospital stay and follow up was 0 (0–4) days and 12 (1–14) months, respectively. One patient who had initial VHR done at an outside institution had a recurrence. Thirty-two (97%) patients were alive at their last follow up. One patient died secondary to progression of prostate cancer. There was no significant 30 day morbidity (surgical site infection, fascial dehiscence, pneumonia, acute kidney injury, myocardial infarction). Of patients who decided non-operative management of VH (n = 23, 67%), none developed a complication requiring emergent surgical intervention. Conclusion The incidence of VH after RRP is likely underreported in prior studies. Repair, either laparoscopic or open, is safe and effective in experienced hands. Patients who decide on watchful waiting can be followed with minimal risk of incarceration/strangulation. Further studies are needed to analyze the extraction techniques after RRP and correlate with incidence of VH.
Communicating Leader-Member Relationship Quality: The Development of Leader Communication Exchange Scales to Measure Relationship Building and Maintenance Through the Exchange of Communication-Based Goods

A half century of leader-member exchange research suggests that leaders share high- or low-quality relationships with members. However, these binary shortcuts dissolve the complexity of what is act...
Otolaryngology consultation tracheostomies and complex patient population.

Abstract Purpose To assess for the differences in patients undergoing tracheostomy by the otolaryngology consult service versus other specialties. Materials and methods A series of 1035 tracheostomies performed at our institution from January 2013 through November 2015 was retrospectively reviewed. Patient-related factors that contribute to procedural difficulty were reviewed. Results 805 consecutive tracheostomies were included. Otolaryngology performed 176/805 (21.8%) tracheostomies as a consulting service. Morbidly obese patients were three times as likely to be referred to otolaryngology as other services (adjusted OR: 3.23; 95% CI: 2.21–4.72). Mean BMI was 36.38 kg/m2 for Consults vs. 28.69 kg/m2 for Others and morbidly obese patients had a mean BMI of 49.84 kg/m2 vs. 42.68 kg/m2 for Consults and Others respectively (p Conclusions More complex tracheostomies are being referred to and performed by otolaryngology at our institution. Difficult and challenging tracheostomies seem to be the “standard” for otolaryngologists.
Modeling, fabrication, and testing of a MEMS multichannel aln transducer for a completely implantable cochelar implant

An implantable acoustic transducer is crucial for a completely implantable cochlear implant (CICI). This paper presents a miniaturized multichannel aluminum nitride (AlN) transducer designed to fit inside a guinea pig cochlea and act as a front end of a CICI. The transducer, fabricated using microelectromechanical systems techniques, has four piezoelectric bimorphs to produce broadband enhanced sensitivity. Transducer functionality is demonstrated via in-air and underwater actuation and acoustic sensing. A finite element analysis model is developed to design the transducer and understand its frequency behavior. The modeled results provide a good match with the experimental results.
Multifactor Market Indexes

A growing list of proposed factors is causing factor and model selection problems in asset pricing research and practice. This paper mitigates these problems by combining the CRSP market index with multiple factors to create a single multifactor market index. Empirical tests of multifactor market indexes using a variety of different test asset portfolios indicate that: (1) Sharpe ratios substantially increase and GRS test statistics decrease as multifactors are incrementally added to the CRSP index; and (2) the resultant multifactor market indexes are significantly priced in cross-sectional tests with t-values exceeding 3.0 in most cases. Further analyses create a new aggregate industry index which is priced among industry portfolios. When multifactors and industry portfolios are combined with the CRSP index, this more general multifactor market index boosts cross-sectional t-values and eliminates mispricing error. Lastly, momentum continues to be priced even when included in multifactor market indexes and therefore is a possible strong factor. Implications to developing more parsimonious asset pricing models as well as more efficient market indexes for investment purposes are discussed.
Team development among physician-leaders at the Cleveland Clinic

Purpose Since 1990, the Cleveland Clinic has trained physicians in team skills through various iterations of a program called Leading in Healthcare (LHC). In the present study, the authors utilize a case study approach to gain insight into the LHC curriculum, and more specifically, the team project. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the Cleveland Clinic’s position on the issue and its approach to education – specifically among physicians. Design/methodology/approach The authors utilized a case study approach with four key program architects. Findings The results of this exploratory research yielded three themes: There is a lack of formal physician education in teamwork, there is a growing trend of inter-disciplinary teams and the team project was an important component of teambuilding in LHC. Research limitations/implications A breakdown in team function adversely impacts patient care. While formal and informal participation in teams is imbedded in the role, physicians are rarely trained in leadership or teambuilding in their formal medical education – much of it is learned on the job in hidden curricula. In addition to the adverse effects of dysfunctional teams on patient care, the authors have explored another area that will be affected by a lack of education – the team experience at the administrative level. As more and more physicians take on leadership roles in healthcare, there is an additional need to build competencies around teams (e.g. team theory, cross-functional team participation and leading teams) from an administrative perspective. Originality/value This is one of only a few studies which have specifically examined the impact of a teamwork education for physicians.
OPIATE DETOXIFICATION USING LOFEXIDINE

A clinical trial using lofexidine as a treatment for opiate withdrawal was conducted in 15 methadone-dependent volunteers. Methadone was abruptly discontinued and lofexidine was administered on an outpatient basis for 11–21 days. Lofexidine was found to have significant withdrawal-suppressing effects, similar to clonidine, but without the undesirable sedative and hypotensive effects that limit clonidine's usefulness. Lofexidine might prove to be safer and more clinically useful than clonidine as a nonopiate treatment for opiate withdrawal.
Physical activity determinants in adults. Perceived benefits, barriers, and self efficacy.

The determinants of physical activity in adults were explored in this study. Explanatory variables included perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to physical activity, and perceived self efficacy for physical activity. Inactive participants were asked to identify barriers to activity, and active participants cited cues prompting them to adopt a physically active lifestyle. Data were collected from 137 adults obtained from work sites, an evening college program, and church groups. Overall, participants were physically active. Self efficacy was the only variable to predict physical activity. Race (i.e., being White) and body mass index (i.e., being overweight) explained perceived barriers to activity. The primary reason for inactivity was lack of time, and the most frequently cited cues to activity were dissatisfaction with one's weight or appearance. Few nursing studies have attempted to increase participants' levels of self efficacy. However, the occupational health nurse is in a unique position to increase workers' perceived self efficacy for activity and, in turn, their activity levels.
Enzyme Sequences in the Living Cell

In this article I explore briefly views on enzyme sequences in the living cell and some implication regarding practical applications.
The "Real World"? Effects of Online Communication about Prostate Cancer on Offline Communication.

Abstract Introduction Online peer-to-peer social support programs are based on the premise that support from others who have been through a similar experience can help reduce the negative impacts of disease. Such support programs are increasingly found online, but how these conversations translate into real world interactions about health concerns is currently not well understood. Methods Grounded in social network theory, this formative study explored how participants in an online prostate cancer community comprised of patients and their families translate their online conversations into offline ones. A survey was designed and fielded, and received 157 complete responses. Results Results support prior research findings that these offline conversations are primarily information-oriented (n = 105) and extend them by the finding that members of online prostate cancer social support communities do, in fact, share information obtained online with others offline (n = 103). Family members appear to be primary receivers of this information (n = 121) while health care providers are not, which may impact treatment and care. Conclusions The opportunity to tie more concretely online messages with offline conversations is of critical importance and interest. Recommendations are presented for future research.
Human Settlement and Mid-Late Holocene Coastal Environmental Change at Cape Krusenstern, Northwest Alaska

Abstract Archaeologists hypothesize that mid-late Holocene environmental variability played a role in several significant western Arctic cultural developments including population fluctuations, the evolution of Arctic maritime adaptations, and Arctic-wide migrations. Further evaluation of these hypotheses requires higher resolution archaeological and paleoecological datasets than are currently available. In response, we undertook an interdisciplinary study at Cape Krusenstern, a large coastal site complex in northwest Alaska, which was occupied over the last ca. 5000–6000 years. Our goals were to refine local cultural and paleoenvironmental chronologies and to explore the question of how local environmental change may have influenced local settlement history. The resulting revised chronology and depositional units confirm and refine prior interpretation of the local archaeological settlement history. New geomorphological data on coastal environmental change and post-depositional modification of the Cape Krusenstern beach ridge system also provide information about patterns of archaeological site preservation, indicating periods of potentially poorer site preservation around 3990 cal BP; this informs interpretation of forager settlement data. Furthermore, our findings suggest that climate-driven changes in the coastal environment at Cape Krusenstern may not be as determinative in terms of landscape evolution as previously thought. Future work should focus on further investigating the relationship between beach ridge development and regional climatic patterns on a regional scale, as this has implications for use of beach ridges as a mid-late Holocene climate proxy. Continued efforts to build paleoenvironmental reconstructions of higher temporal and spatial resolution for the region will help address remaining questions about the relationship between local coastal environmental changes and regional patterns, and the impacts of these environmental shifts on local residents.
The Impact of Motivation, Innovation, and Causation and Effectuation Approaches on Exit Strategies

Although exit is a central part of the entrepreneurial process, most of the entrepreneurship literature has focused on the entry and growth phases of a business. Our research examines the extent to...
Predicting Evacuation Destinations due to a Natural Hazard using Mobile Network Data

Exposed to a variety of natural hazards, Vanuatu is one of the most disaster-prone countries in the South Pacific. The Government plays a central role in disaster response and has articulated a need for information on disaster-induced displacement in order to target resources. This paper aims to inform preparation and planning by developing a method to predict evacuation destinations before a disaster happens by applying machine learning approaches to mobile network data. In this study, the eruption of Mount Monaro in 2017 is chosen to test the prediction performance of the model in a real disaster scenario. We explored 273 features, extracted from over one-hundred-million anonymized mobile network records, to describe (a) basic phone usage, (b) active user behavior, (c) spatial behavior, (d) regularity, and (e) diversity. Our results show that supervised machine learning methods produce promising results in predicting evacuation destinations.
Praying to win this battle: Cancer Metaphors in Latina and Spanish Women's Narratives.

This study closely examines 51 breast cancer narratives Latina and Spanish women wrote for other patients to illuminate how they conceptualize their health, with insights for addressing health disp...
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION ASSOCIATED WITH CLENBUTEROL ABUSE IN A 22-YEAR-OLD COLLEGE ATHLETE

Clenbuterol is an oral beta 2 agonist that has recently gained popularity as a performance-enhancement drug and is commonly abused by weight lifters and athletes. We report a case of a college football player who presented with ischemic chest pain after taking clenbuterol. A healthy 22-year-old
Analyzing the impact of user-generated content on B2B Firms' stock performance: Big data analysis with machine learning methods

Abstract Marketing scholars are interested in the big data of user-generated content (UGC) from social media platforms. However, the majority of current UGC studies have been conducted in the business-to-consumer (B2C) context. To fill the knowledge gap in business-to-business (B2B) research, we investigate whether UGC has differential impacts on stock performance for B2B and B2C firms by using big data. We collect a large dataset of 84 million tweets from 20.3 million Twitter accounts and 8 years of stock data for 407 companies from the S&P500 index. The results from machine learning methods are transformed into a monthly panel data. We conduct fixed effects model on the panel data. We find that UGC has a significant impact on firms' stock performance and that its impact on stock performance is much stronger among B2C firms than among B2B firms. While consumers' positive sentiment does not play a significant role in stock performance, consumers' negative sentiment and WOM significantly impact stock prices.
Automated synthesis of [11C]L-glutamine on Synthra HCN plus synthesis module.

L-Glutamine (L-Gln) is the most abundant amino acid present in the human body and is involved in numerous metabolic pathways. Glutaminolysis is the metabolic process deployed by many aggressive cancers such as triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Imaging the metabolic pathways of L-glutamine could provide more insights into tumor biology. Reliable and reproducible automated synthesis of [11C]L-glutamine PET (Positron Emission Tomography) radiotracer is critical for these studies. [11C]L-Glutamine ([11C]L-Gln) was reliably and reproducibly synthesized. The automated process involves cleaning and drying of the synthesis module, azeotropic drying of crown ether and cesium bicarbonate, conversion of [11C]CO2 to [11C] CsCN, incorporation of [11C] CN into the starting material, and hydrolysis and deprotection of the corresponding [11C] nitrile to yield [11C]L-glutamine. Starting with approximately 1 Ci of [11C] cesium cyanide ([11C]CsCN), 47–77 mCi (n = 4) of the final product, [11C]L-Gln, was obtained after sterile filtration. The radiochemical purity of the final product was > 90% with almost exclusively L-glutamine isomer. The yield of [11C]L-Gln was 43–52% (n = 4), decay corrected to end of [11C] CsCN trapping in the reaction vessel. All the steps including drying of the mixture of base and crown ether, preparation of [11C] cyanide, radiochemical synthesis and formulation were accomplished on a single synthesis unit. [11C]L-Gln has been successfully adapted and optimized on an automated synthesis module, Synthra HCN Plus. This process can be readily adapted for clinical research use.
Curative treatment for low-grade arteriovenous malformations

Background Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade I-II (low-grade) arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are often considered safe for microsurgery or radiosurgery. The adjunctive use of preoperative embolization to reduce surgical risk in these AVMs remains controversial. Objective To assess the safety of combined treatment of grade I-II AVMs with preoperative embolization followed by surgical resection or radiosurgery, and determine the long-term functional outcomes. Methods With institutional review board approval, a retrospective analysis was carried out on patients with ruptured and unruptured SM I-II AVMs between 2002 and 2017. Details of the endovascular procedures, including number of arteries supplying the AVM, number of branches embolized, embolic agent(s) used, and complications were studied. Baseline clinical and imaging characteristics were compared. Functional status using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) before and after endovascular and microsurgical treatments was compared. Results 258 SM I-II AVMs (36% SM I, 64% SM II) were identified in patients with a mean age of 38 ± 17 years. 48% presented with hemorrhage, 21% with seizure, 16% with headache, 10% with no symptoms, and 5% with clinical deficits. 90 patients (68%) in the unruptured group and 74 patients (59%) in the ruptured group underwent presurgical embolization (p = 0.0013). The mean number of arteries supplying the AVM was 1.44 and 1.41 in the unruptured and ruptured groups, respectively (p = 0.75). The mean number of arteries embolized was 2.51 in the unruptured group and 1.82 in the ruptured group (p = 0.003). n-Butyl cyanoacrylate and Onyx were the two most commonly used embolic agents. Four complications were seen in four patients (4/164 patients embolized): two peri-/postprocedural hemorrhage, one dissection, and one infarct. All patients undergoing surgery had a complete cure on postoperative angiography. Patients were followed up for a mean of 55 months. Good long-term outcomes (mRS score ≤ 2) were seen in 92.5% of patients with unruptured AVMs and 88.0% of those with ruptured AVMs. Permanent neurological morbidity occurred in 1.2%. Conclusions Curative treatment of SM I-II AVMs can be performed using endovascular embolization with microsurgical resection or radiosurgery in selected cases, with very low morbidity and high cure rates. Compared with other published series, these outcomes suggest that preoperative embolization is a safe and effective adjunct to definitive surgical treatment. Long-term follow-up showed that patients with low-grade AVMs undergoing surgical resection or radiosurgery have good functional outcomes.
Impact of valganciclovir prophylaxis duration on cytomegalovirus disease in high-risk donor seropositive/recipient seronegative heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Few data support use of 6 over 3 months of antiviral prophylaxis for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease prevention in donor seropositive/recipient seronegative (D+R-) heart transplant recipients (HTR). METHODS We retrospectively assessed CMV disease and outcomes in 310 adult HTR between July 5, 2005, and December 30, 2016, at our center. Valganciclovir (VGCV) prophylaxis was given for 3-6 months in the D+R- group. Multivariable models evaluated risk factors for CMV disease in patients who received 3 vs 6 months (±1 month) of prophylaxis, with investigation of inverse probability weighting to correct for confounding variables. RESULTS The incidence of CMV disease among all patients and the D+R- group was 8.7% (27/310) and 26.5% (22/83), respectively, and included syndrome in 22.2% (6/27) and end-organ involvement in 77.8% (21/27). In a multivariable model, 6 vs 3 months of antiviral prophylaxis was not associated with reduced risk for CMV disease (OR 2.28 [95% CI 0.66, 7.91], P = .19). CMV disease in D+R- HTR was associated with higher rates of hospitalization (87.5% [14/16] vs 6.3% [1/16], P < .001) and for a longer duration than in matched D+R- controls without disease. CONCLUSIONS Cytomegalovirus disease remains a major cause of morbidity in D+R- HTR. In contrast to documented benefit in D+R- lung and kidney recipients, VGCV duration of 6 months was not associated with a lower incidence of CMV disease in D+R- HTR compared to 3-month duration and should be reconsidered in this patient population.
What goes up must come down: Consequences of jump strategy modification on dance leap take-off biomechanics

Chronic foot and ankle injuries are common in dancers; understanding how lower extremity loading changes in response to altered task goals can be beneficial for rehabilitation and injury prevention...
Decongestive diuresis using combination intravenous loop diuretics plus chlorothiazide in type 1 acute cardiorenal syndrome and worsening acute kidney injury; a neglected paradigm in resource-poor settings

Over the last decade or more, there has grown a body of evidence demonstrating that renal dysfunction in heart failure is a combination of forward failure from reduced cardiac output and therefore reduced glomerular filtration rate, as well as "congestive renal failure" secondary to renal venous hypertension. We had demonstrated the efficacy of combination intravenous loop diuretics used concurrently with intravenous chlorothiazide to achieve significant renal salvage in such patients at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Northwestern Wisconsin. We describe a similar recent experience with three consecutive elderly patients at the University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, USA. We posit that this paradigm of care is underutilized. We argue that aggressive decongestive therapy with combination intravenous loop and thiazide diuretics is a neglected and underutilized mechanism and must be utilized more frequently in the treatment of worsening renal failure with type 1 cardiorenal syndrome. This imperative is even most compelling in resource-poor settings where mechanical ultrafiltration with dialysis or similar machines is not available or simply not affordable. Moreover, we had also demonstrated that accelerated rising Pro B natriuretic peptide (Pro-BNP) in such patients portends a good prognosticator for renal salvage. We present here three consecutive elderly patients recently so managed successfully at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT, USA.
How Fear of “Looming Megacatastrophes” Alters Entrepreneurial Activity Rates through Psychological Distance

Currently, the global mood is one of anxiety and fear over “looming megacatastrophes” (LMCs) such as climate change, pandemics, or nuclear war. The important implications of these proliferating fea...
Anemia, sex, and race as predictors of morbidity or mortality after knee arthroplasty surgery.

BACKGROUND Anemia is associated with poor outcome after major joint replacement surgery, but it is unclear whether sex and race modify its impact on outcome. We hypothesized that anemia would be associated with increased morbidity or mortality after knee arthroplasty surgery and that sex and race would be effect modifiers for this relationship. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of elective knee arthroplasty patients between 2013 and 2018 using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Morbidity or mortality after surgery was compared between patients without anemia, with mild anemia, and with moderate to severe anemia. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds for morbidity or mortality with anemia. Interaction terms were entered into the model to test for effect modification by sex and race. RESULTS 243 491 patients were included and 30 135 patients (12.4%) were anemic. Morbidity or mortality occurred in 3.7% of patients without anemia, 5.2% of patients with mild anemia, and 7.1% of patients with moderate to severe anemia (P < .001). After adjustment for confounding variables, mild anemia OR = 1.36 (95% CI = 1.28-1.45), and moderate to severe anemia OR = 1.92 (95% CI = 1.72-2.13) were associated with increased odds of morbidity or mortality. Sex, but not race, was a significant effect modifier with men having a greater increase in morbidity or mortality when anemic (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS Anemia is associated with increased morbidity or mortality after knee arthroplasty surgery and men have a greater increase in perioperative risk than women when anemic.
Role of innate immunity in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

It has become increasingly clear that the innate immune system plays an essential role in the generation of many types of neuropathic pain including that which accompanies cancer treatment. In this article we review current findings of the role of the innate immune system in contributing to cancer treatment pain at the distal endings of peripheral nerve, in the nerve trunk, in the dorsal root ganglion and in the spinal dorsal horn.
Are Cardiometabolic Markers of Allostatic Load Associated With Pronociceptive Processes in Native Americans?: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis From the Oklahoma Study of Native American Pain Risk.

Abstract Native Americans (NAs) experience higher rates of chronic pain than the general U.S. population, but the risk factors for this pain disparity are unknown. NAs also experience high rates of stressors and cardiovascular and metabolic health disparities (eg, diabetes, cardiovascular disease) consistent with allostatic load (stress-related wear-and-tear on homeostatic systems). Given that allostatic load is associated with chronic pain, then allostatic load may contribute to their pain disparity. Data from 302 healthy, pain-free men and women (153 NAs, 149 non-Hispanic Whites [NHW]) were analyzed using structural equation modeling to determine whether cardiometabolic allostatic load (body mass index, blood pressure, heart rate variability) mediated the relationship between NA ethnicity and experimental measures of pronociceptive processes: temporal summation of pain (TS-pain) and the nociceptive flexion reflex (TS-NFR), conditioned pain modulation of pain (CPM-pain) and NFR (CPM-NFR), and pain tolerance. Results indicated that NAs experienced greater cardiometabolic allostatic load that was related to enhanced TS-NFR and impaired CPM-NFR. Cardiometabolic allostatic load was unrelated to measures of pain perception (CPM-pain, TS-pain, pain sensitivity). This suggests cardiometabolic allostatic load may promote spinal sensitization in healthy NAs, that is not concomitant with pain sensitization, perhaps representing a unique pain risk phenotype in NAs. Perspective: Healthy, pain-free Native Americans experienced greater cardiometabolic allostatic load that was associated with a pronociceptive pain phenotype indicative of latent spinal sensitization (ie, spinal sensitization not associated with hyperalgesia). This latent spinal sensitization could represent a pain risk phenotype for this population.
Marketing Professional Development Online Streaming Videos to Faculty via Email During COVID-19

Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the College’s Hirons Library & Learning Center (HLLC) and the Office of Institutional Research & Training (OIRT) marketing efforts included word of mouth,...
Nusinersen by subcutaneous intrathecal catheter for symptomatic spinal muscular atrophy patients with complex spine anatomy.

Introduction/aims Intrathecal administration of nusinersen is challenging in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who have spine deformities or fusions. We prospectively studied the safety and efficacy of nusinersen administration via an indwelling subcutaneous intrathecal catheter (SIC) for SMA patients with advanced disease. Methods Seventeen participants commenced nusinersen therapy between 2.7 and 31.5 years of age and received 9-12 doses via SIC. Safety was assessed in all participants. A separate efficacy analysis comprised 11 non-ambulatory, treatment-naive SMA patients (18.1 ± 6.8 years) with three SMN2 copies and complex spine anatomy. Results In the safety analysis, 14 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) occurred among 12 (71%) participants; all were related to the SIC and not nusinersen. Device-related AEs interfered with 2.5% of nusinersen doses. Four SICs (24%) required surgical revision due to mechanical malfunction with or without cerebrospinal fluid leak (n = 2), and one (6%) was removed due to Staphylococcus epidermidis meningitis. In the efficacy analysis, mean performance on the Nine Hole Peg Test improved in dominant (15.9%, p = 0.0.012) and non-dominant (19.0%, p = 0.008) hands and grip strength increased 44.9% (p = 0.0.031). We observed no significant changes in motor scales, muscle force, pulmonary function, or SMA biomarkers. All participants in the efficacy cohort reported one or more subjective improvements of endurance, purposeful hand use, arm strength, head control, and/or speech. Discussion For SMA patients with complex spine anatomy, the SIC allows for reliable outpatient administration of nusinersen that results in meaningful improvements of upper limb function, but introduces risks of technical malfunction and iatrogenic infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
A History of Balance, 1250–1375: The Emergence of a New Model of Equilibrium and its Impact on Thought

Introduction 1. Equality and equalization in the economic sphere, part I: the scholastic discourse on usury to 1300 2. Equality and equalization in the economic sphere, part II: the scholastic discourse on price and value to 1300 3. Balance in medieval medical theory, part I: the legacy of Galen 4. Balance in medieval medical theory, part II: the scholastic reception and refinement of Galenic balance to ca. 1315 5. Evolving models of equalization in medieval political thought, ca. 1250-1325 6. The new model of equilibrium in medieval political thought, part I: the Defensor Pacis of Marsilius of Padua 7. The new model of equilibrium in medieval political thought, part II: the writings of Nicole Oresme 8. The new model of equilibrium in scholastic natural philosophy, ca. 1325-1375 Conclusion Bibliography.
A serum predictor of Graves' disease recurrence following radioactive iodine therapy

368 Objectives Radioiodine (RAI) therapy with I-131 is the most common definitive treatment for Graves9 disease. Although success rates are high, it remains unclear why a subset of patients revert to a hyperthyroid state, sometimes years following therapy. Previous research has identified a number of factors associated with RAI therapy failure, including RAI uptake, gender, age, and thyroid size. In this study we seek a serum marker that will predict the recurrence of Graves9 disease following RAI therapy. Methods All patients who underwent RAI therapy for Graves9 disease from 2005 to 2011 at our institution were examined. Pre-therapy RAI uptake data, ultrasound results, RAI therapy dose, and demographic data were collected. Additionally, multiple serum markers were collected, including TSH, T4, T3, PTH, and calcium. Recurrence of Graves9 disease was defined as a TSH Results No significant difference in pre-therapy RAI uptake, ultrasound results, or demographic data was found between patients who remained euthyroid or hypothyroid and those who experienced a recurrence of Graves9 disease. A significantly greater number of patients who experienced a recurrence of Graves9 disease had abnormally elevated T4 within two months following treatment (52.8% vs 27.6%, p=0.0081) and a greater than 1.0 microIU/mL increase in serum T4 from pre-therapy levels within two months post-therapy (36.1% vs 6.7%, p Conclusions Post-therapy serum T4 levels are good predictors of hyperthyroidism recurrence. We recommend close monitoring for Graves9 disease recurrence in patients with increases in serum T4 of greater than 1.0 microIU/mL from pre-therapy levels within two months post-therapy.
Key Developments in Human Pose Estimation for Kinect

The last few years have seen a surge in the development of natural user interfaces. These interfaces do not require devices such as keyboards and mice that have been the dominant modes of interaction over the last few decades. An important milestone in the progress of natural user interfaces was the recent launch of Kinect with its unique ability to reliably estimate the pose of the human user in real time. Human pose estimation has been the subject of much research in Computer Vision, but only recently with the introduction of depth cameras and algorithmic advances has pose estimation made it out of the lab and into the living room. In this chapter we briefly summarize the work on human pose estimation for Kinect that has been undertaken at Microsoft Research Cambridge, and discuss some of the remaining open challenges. Due to the summary nature of this chapter, we limit our description to the key insights and refer the reader to the original publications for the technical details.
Professor Ilaria Ossella-Durbal’s Sabbatical Adventures

Melissa Seeborg provides a brief overview of Professor Durbal-Ossella's sabbatical research, which focus on developing content for her "Economics of Developing Countries" course. This news and commentary is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol21/iss1/6
EEOC v. City of Independence

This case note summarizes an Eighth Circuit decision that held that a city program that allows employees to donate vacation time to colleagues violated the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) because the city used age-based factors to exclude employees from the program.
Role of adaptive radiation therapy for pediatric patients with diffuse pontine glioma

We investigate the role of adaptive radiation therapy in pediatric patients with diffuse pontine glioma and the impact of steroid-related weight gain on treatment parameters utilizing cone-beam CT. Fifteen patients with diffuse pontine glioma were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy and enrolled on a daily localization protocol. The median age was 6 years (range: 2-13 years). Patient charts were examined to obtain the prescribed daily dose of dexamethasone and weight. The original treatment plan was recalculated based on the data obtained from the daily cone-beam CT. The changes in target and critical structure doses were calculated using gEUD. Correlations between prescribed dexamethasone, weight gain, source-to-skin distance (SSD) changes and dosimetric changes were investigated. Eleven of the 15 patients gained weight during radiation therapy, with an average gain of 2.2 kg (8.0%). The mean gEUD decreased was 0.57 Gy (range: 0.24-1.4 Gy) for the PTV, and the mean gEUD increase for critical structures was 1.14%. No strong correlations between prescribed dexamethasone doses, weight gain and dosimetric changes were found. Change in SSD vs. dose to PTV was correlated (R2 = 0.51). Weight gain and changes to the external surface are apparent in these patients; however, the dosimetric changes to the target and critical structures were small and in most cases did not warrant an adaptive plan. The potential exists for a decrease in target dose in these patients; therefore, they should be monitored to assess for replanning when necessary.
Transfer function analysis of dynamic cerebral autoregulation in preeclampsia.

Abstract Objective The cerebral circulatory effects of preeclampsia on the latency (phase) and the efficiency (gain) of the cerebral autoregulatory response is unknown. Preeclampsia causes a progressive impairment of the cerebral autoregulatory response. We sought to identify these dynamic cerebral autoregulation changes in preeclampsia. Study design We simultaneously measured continuously beat to beat outputs of mean arterial pressure (MAP) (Pilot 9200) and beat to beat, systolic, diastolic, and mean cerebral blood flow (MCBFV) (Nicolet Vascular TCD) for 2min with the patient during supine rest. Five preeclamptic and 5 matched normotensive controls were studied. R–R intervals, MAP, and MCBFV were analyzed in the frequency domain. Data sets were fast Fourier transformed and power spectral densities were calculated. We calculated the phase angle (which represents the temporal relationship between the MAP and mean MCBFV) and the transfer function (amplitude or gain between changes in the MCBFV signal and the MAP signal). All continuous data was compared between the two groups using T tests. Results We identified a significant difference between (1) the gain between the normotensive and preeclamptic groups (.29±.07 vs .10±.04) ( p p Conclusion Preeclampsia paradoxically results in a significant improvement in dynamic cerebral autoregulation as demonstrated by an increase in phase and a decrease in gain. Clinical studies that can systematically assess the progression of these dynamic autoregulation changes are needed.
Infrared Frequency Generation in Chalcopyrite Crystals AgGaS2 and AgGaGe2

Both continuously and step tunable nonlinear infrared frequency generation have many potential applications in remote sensing. Nonlinear frequency conversion in the infrared, however, has been limited by the properties of available nonlinear optical materials. The required material characteristics include low absorption, good optical quality, and dispersion and birefingence properties which allow phasematching in addition to nonlinear properties of high resistance to optical damage and a usefull nonlinear optical coefficient. Furthermore, it is essential that the technology exists to reliably grow the material in adequate size and quality.
"Thinking inside of the box": retention of women in engineering

The paper describes a current effort at Penn State Altoona to address the issue of low retention of women in science and engineering. This effort also is designed to contribute to the long-term advancement of women in these fields throughout their careers. The approach taken is to challenge women students to recognize their beliefs and self perceptions regarding their relationship with engineering and thus provide them with the opportunity for positive change. As a consequence, their actions have potential to change stereotypical attitudes towards women in the sciences. The particular method we chose to accomplish these goals is to design and teach a course to educate women in the area of computer problem diagnosis and repair. The course includes diagnosing and troubleshooting software and hardware problems, and upgrading and maintaining the systems, as well as an introduction to component functionality and integration. Demonstration of the proficiency attained by the women in computer technology distinguishes them among colleagues. This distinction results from the well-recognized prestige associated with this level of knowledge of computer technology.
Dystonia: genetics and treatment update

Background Dystonia refers to a syndrome of sustained muscle contractions, frequently causing twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. Although age at onset, anatomic distribution, and family history are essential elements in the evaluation of dystonia, new classification increasingly relies on etiologic and genetic data. In recent years, much progress has been made on the genetics of various forms of dystonia and its pathophysiology underlying the clinical signs. The treatment of dystonia has continued to evolve to include newer medications, different forms of botulinum toxin, and various surgical procedures. Review summary In this article, the author reviewed and summarized the history of dystonia, its evolving classification, and recent genetic data, as well as its clinical investigation and treatment. Conclusions Recent advances in molecular biology have led to the discovery of novel dystonia genes and loci, updating classification schemes, and better understanding of underlying pathophysiology. Treatment strategies for dystonia have significantly been updated with the introduction of different forms of botulinum toxin therapy, new pharmacologic agents, and most recently pallidal deep brain stimulation. A systematic approach to the diagnosis and treatment evaluation of dystonic patients provides optimal care for long-term management.
Reactions to prick and intradermal skin tests

Background Allergy skin testing is a common procedure for the diagnosis of atopic diseases with a small risk of systemic reactions. Objective To determine the 12-month incidence of systemic reactions (SRs) to skin prick testing (SPT) and intradermal skin testing (ST) and the symptoms and response to immediate treatment with epinephrine intramuscularly. Methods A prospective study was conducted to evaluate SRs from ST in 1,456 patients. A standard form was used to record symptoms, signs, and treatment. The SRs are defined as any sign or symptom other than a local reaction thought to be secondary to ST. No vasovagal reactions were included. Nurses, as instructed by attending physicians, administered epinephrine (0.2 mL of a 1:1,000 dilution) intramuscularly in the deltoid as soon as any remote signs or symptoms occurred. Results Fifty-two patients (3.6%) had SRs (6 SPT and 46 intradermal): 43 (83%) were female, and 17 (33%) had asthma. Systemic symptoms included (SPT/intradermal) pruritic eyes, nose, or pharynx (0%/46%); worsening cough (50%/26%); sensation of difficulty swallowing (0%/20%); worsening nasal congestion (17%/15%); rhinorrhea (17%/13%); chest tightness or shortness of breath (33%/11%); generalized pruritus (17%/11%); sneezing (33%/9%); wheeze (0%/4%); and urticaria (17%/2%). No severe asthma, shock, hypotension, unconsciousness, or biphasic reactions occurred. All 52 patients received epinephrine intramuscularly, 48 (92%) oral prednisone, 9 (17%) oral prednisone to take 6 to 8 hours after a reaction, 50 (96%) oral antihistamine, and 6 (12%) nebulized β-agonist. Conclusions Of patients who underwent ST, SRs occurred in 3.6% (0.4% for SPT and 3.2% for intradermal ST), all of whom readily responded to epinephrine intramuscularly in the deltoid. This immediate administration of epinephrine seems to prevent more serious and biphasic reactions.