cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
1707 PERIVENTRICULAR LEUKOMALACIA: INCIDENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE IN PREMATURE INFANTS

Portable cranial sonography was done on 389 infants with birth weights of 1750g or less admitted to Georgetown University Hospital's Intensive Care Nursery during the 3-year period May 1981 to April 1984. Periventricular leukomalacia(PVL) was diagnosed in 28 infants (7.2%) with birthweights of 680-1730g with appropriate gestational ages 26-33 weeks. The lesions were bilateral in 89% and widespread along the ventricular borders in 86%. Survival in the PVL group was 75%, statistically not significant from 83% on infants without PVL. Twenty of the 21 PVL survivors have been evaluated quarterly using the Bayley Scales of Motor (PDI) and Mental(MDI) Development and standard neurological criteria. All infants demonstrated generalized hypertonia/spasticity on follow-up to 6-35 months (mean 17.6 months). Ninety percent had severe motor deficits, and 75% had significant delay in mental scores (MDI). Cortical blindness was present in 25%. The infants with significantly abnormal MDI and PDI (scores<50) all had bilateral widespread PVL, in contrast to the infants within the normal range who demonstrated focal and/or unilateral lesions. Conclusions: 1)PVL occurs in 7.2% of premature infants weighing 1750g or less at birth; 2) significant neuro-developmental handicaps are present in infants with bilateral widespread PVL; and 3) infants with focal and/or unilateral lesions have a better chance for reasonable developmental outcome.
Identification of host-microbe interaction factors in the genomes of soft rot-associated pathogens Dickeya dadantii 3937 and Pectobacterium carotovorum WPP14 with supervised machine learning

A wealth of genome sequences has provided thousands of genes of unknown function, but identification of functions for the large numbers of hypothetical genes in phytopathogens remains a challenge that impacts all research on plant-microbe interactions. Decades of research on the molecular basis of pathogenesis focused on a limited number of factors associated with long-known host-microbe interaction systems, providing limited direction into this challenge. Computational approaches to identify virulence genes often rely on two strategies: searching for sequence similarity to known host-microbe interaction factors from other organisms, and identifying islands of genes that discriminate between pathogens of one type and closely related non-pathogens or pathogens of a different type. The former is limited to known genes, excluding vast collections of genes of unknown function found in every genome. The latter lacks specificity, since many genes in genomic islands have little to do with host-interaction. In this study, we developed a supervised machine learning approach that was designed to recognize patterns from large and disparate data types, in order to identify candidate host-microbe interaction factors. The soft rot Enterobacteriaceae strains Dickeya dadantii 3937 and Pectobacterium carotovorum WPP14 were used for development of this tool, because these pathogens are important on multiple high value crops in agriculture worldwide and more genomic and functional data is available for the Enterobacteriaceae than any other microbial family. Our approach achieved greater than 90% precision and a recall rate over 80% in 10-fold cross validation tests. Application of the learning scheme to the complete genome of these two organisms generated a list of roughly 200 candidates, many of which were previously not implicated in plant-microbe interaction and many of which are of completely unknown function. These lists provide new targets for experimental validation and further characterization, and our approach presents a promising pattern-learning scheme that can be generalized to create a resource to study host-microbe interactions in other bacterial phytopathogens.
The Second National Survey of U.S. Internship Standards in Health Education Professional Preparation: 15 Years Later

Abstract This study assessed internships associated with health education professional programs in the U.S. This study updates findings from an earlier survey published in 1990. Using the 2003 AJHE directory of institutions, 255 health education professional preparation programs were identified. Two hundred and eleven institutions had a health education/promotion or community health program and were sent a survey packet. Of the 211 surveys sent, 124 completed surveys were returned. Results indicate that overall the vast majority of programs required internships. Undergraduate programs were more likely to require an internship than were masters level programs. Travel reimbursement for site visits was reported by most programs, as was inclusion of site visits in full-time faculty's workload; however, there was a decrease in the proportion of programs reducing workload to compensate for site visits from the first survey. Over half of programs have a policy in place regarding student compensation with almost ...
Attribit: content creation with semantic attributes

We present AttribIt, an approach for people to create visual content using relative semantic attributes expressed in linguistic terms. During an off-line processing step, AttribIt learns semantic attributes for design components that reflect the high-level intent people may have for creating content in a domain (e.g. adjectives such as "dangerous", "scary" or "strong") and ranks them according to the strength of each learned attribute. Then, during an interactive design session, a person can explore different combinations of visual components using commands based on relative attributes (e.g. "make this part more dangerous"). Novel designs are assembled in real-time as the strengths of selected attributes are varied, enabling rapid, in-situ exploration of candidate designs. We applied this approach to 3D modeling and web design. Experiments suggest this interface is an effective alternative for novices performing tasks with high-level design goals.
The Effect of Training and Development on Employee Attitude as it Relates to Training and Work Proficiency

It is incumbent on training and development professionals to design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of their programs in reducing disputes in workplace performance. This study explores the relationships between training experiences and attitudes and attitudes about perceived job proficiency. In a sample of 237 full-time salaried/exempt and hourly/nonexempt employees from one academic institution and three businesses in the states of Maryland, Delaware, and Arizona, the author finds a direct relationship between one’s positive training experiences and attitudes and one’s proficiency. In this study, 86.8% of those who had updated training had the most positive attitudes toward training (γ = .293, p < .05). Furthermore, 80% of those who had negative training attitudes also had negative views on their proficiency (γ = .465, p < .000).
Central endogenous angiotensin-(1-7) protects against aldosterone/NaCl-induced hypertension in female rats.

In comparison to male rodents, females are protected against angiotensin (ANG) II- and aldosterone (Aldo)-induced hypertension. However, the mechanisms underlying this protective effect are not well understood. ANG-(1–7) is formed from ANG II by angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and has an antihypertensive effect in the central nervous system (CNS). The present study tested the hypothesis that central ANG-(1–7) plays an important protective role in attenuating the development of Aldo/NaCl-hypertension in female rats. Systemic infusion of Aldo into intact female rats with 1% NaCl as their sole drinking fluid resulted in a slight increase in blood pressure (BP). Intracerebroventricular (icv) infusion of A-779, an ANG-(1–7) receptor (Mas-R) antagonist, significantly augmented the pressor effects of Aldo/NaCl. In contrast, systemic Aldo/NaCl induced a significant increase in BP in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats, and central infusion of ANG-(1–7) significantly attenuated this Aldo/NaCl pressor effect. The inhibitory effect of ANG-(1–7) on the Aldo/NaCl pressor effect was abolished by concurrent infusion of A-779. RT-PCR analyses showed that there was a corresponding change in mRNA expression of several renin-angiotensin system components, estrogen receptors and an NADPH oxidase subunit in the lamina terminalis. Taken together these results suggest that female sex hormones regulate an antihypertensive axis of the brain renin-angiotensin system involving ACE2/ANG-(1–7)/Mas-R that plays an important counterregulatory role in protecting against the development of Aldo/NaCl-induced hypertension.
Validity and Norms of a Hyperactivity Rating Scale

Teachers rated 1337 school children to determine norms for a hyperactivity rating scale; teacher ratings of 45 hyperactive children, referred by physicians, were also obtained. Although hyperative and norm means were clearly separated, a nontrivial portion of hyperactive children had teacher ratings within the normal range. Norm data were factor-analyzed, and a hyperactivity factor was identified. Behaviors with the highest loadings on the hyperactivity factor yielded the largest differences between hyperactive and norm groups. Within the norm group, black children had the highest hyperactive ratings and oriental children had the lowest. Hyperactivity ratings were slightly higher for boys than for girls.
Model-based solid texture synthesis for anatomic volume illustration

Medical illustrations can make powerful use of texture synthesis to convey information about anatomic structures in an attractive, effective and understandable way. Current visualization methods are not capable of conveying detailed information about the orientation, internal structure, and other local properties of the anatomical objects for a particular patient because imaging modalities such as CT or MRI do not capture this information. In this paper, a new anatomical rendering method that utilizes model-based synthesis of 3D textures is proposed in order to distinguish and illustrate different structures inside the model. The goal of our volume illustration approach is to visualize structural information by considering directions and layers in synthesizing high-quality, high-resolution solid textures. Our method uses medial coordinates of 3D models and 2D exemplar textures to generate solid textures that change progressively in orientation and material according to the local orientation and transition information implicit in the anatomic region. Discrete medial 3D anatomical models ("m-reps") provide the orientation field and texture variation maps inside image regions. In our paper, we demonstrate the robustness of our method with a variety of textures applied to different anatomical structures, such as muscles, and mandible.
Improving satellite bandwidth utilization by applying combinatorial optimization to the Integrated Waveform (DAMA UHF SATCOM)

The integrated waveform (DAMA UHF SATCOM), specified in MIL-STD-188-181C/182B/183B/185A, defines a TDMA communication system in an attempt to improve satellite bandwidth utilization over legacy SATCOM waveforms. To overcome some of the limitations of statically defined user communications (UCOM) services in MILSTD-188-183A, the flexibility to assign services nearly anywhere within a frame was introduced in MIL-STD-188-183B. An unfortunate side effect of the enhanced flexibility in slot placement is the increased tendency of the service layout, both within and across channels, to become increasingly fragmented as terminals request the allocation, relocation, and deallocation of UCOM services. Fortunately, by utilizing the innovative service update feature it becomes possible for the IW network management system (NMS) to defragment the service layout of all satellite channels under its control to create larger contiguous regions of unallocated channel space which can be used to accommodate current and future service allocation requests. This paper will discuss the application of combinatorial optimization in the initial allocation and dynamic defragmentation of services within an IW communications system to improve the utilization of satellite bandwidth while minimizing the impact to ongoing user communications.
Exploring the barriers and challenges of information and communication technology use in distributed research today: A ranking-type Delphi study

Dramatic improvements in the capabilities and costs of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in recent years have presented new opportunities for the conduct of distributed scientific collaboration. At the same time, the complex interplay of technical, social and organizational issues has also created significant new challenges in the use of ICTs for scientific work. In this paper we present an exploratory, “ranking-type” Delphi survey to understand the types of barriers and challenges that scientists are encountering today in their use of ICTs for distributed research. We also investigate whether there are major differences in the barriers to ICT use experienced by scientists in the domains of „hard‟ (natural) sciences and engineering, and the behavioral and social sciences. For the study, we elicited and organized the opinions of 24 expert panelists through an online survey (e-Delphi). A rank-order list of 27 major issues was identified, and ranked lists of the top 14 issues in each research domain with a discussion of commonalities and differences. The results of our study point to important issues for future research in CSSC/CSCW and for the practice of distributed research collaboration.
Prescription opioids, overdose deaths, and physician responsibility.

re-vealedthatopioidanalgesicscontributedto93%ofthose deaths and most of these potentially avoid-abledeathsoccurredinyoungerpersons(aged18-44years).Thesedisturbingfindingsarecertaintoraisequestionsaboutphysicianprescribingpractices,thesafetyandadverseeffectprofiles of opioid medications, and the appropriate man-agement of pain. These findings also raise several impor-tantquestionsforphysicianswhoaretryingtobalancetheirduty to relieve pain in individual patients and their obliga-tion to prevent the broader public health problems of ad-diction and overdose death.First, do these overdose deaths suggest excessive opioidprescribing practices? The 2006 death rate from uninten-tionaloverdosebyprescriptiondrugsinWestVirginiawas16.2/100000population,morethan2timeshigherthantheUS average of 5.6/100000 population during the same pe-riod.
Separating the Secular Motion of the Pole from Continental Drift - where and what to Observe?

The paper estimates the expected rates of changes in the coordinates of various observatory networks (IPMS, BIH, VLBI, etc.) due to the secular motion of the pole and/or continental drift according to the Le Pichon Model. Based on these estimates, suggestions are made as to what to observe and over what time span to separate the effect of continental drift and secular polar motion.
Trends in the Incidence and Transmission Patterns of Trichinosis in Humans in the United States: Comparisons of the Periods 1975–1981 and 1982–1986

Since 1947, the U.S. Public Health Service has recorded statistics on reported cases of trichinosis in humans. More complete clinical and epidemiologic data on cases became available after 1965, when trichinosis was officially made a notifiable disease. The numbers of reported cases declined markedly from an average of approximately 400, with 10-15 deaths reported each year in the late 1940s, to 57 per year, with three deaths in the 5 years 1982-1986. Although annual incidence was highest in sparsely populated Alaska, the highest numbers of cases are reported from the northeastern United States. Food sources of this infection vary in different geographic regions. The decline in annual incidence during the past 12 years appears to be accounted for largely by a decline in the number of cases attributed to commercially purchased pork, although pork products continue to be the major source of infections in humans. The number of cases due to ingestion of wild animal meat have remained relatively constant. Activities at the national and state level that have improved the prospects for control and prevention of trichinosis in commercial products are discussed.
Annotated inclusion constraints for precise flow analysis

Program flow analysis has many applications in software tools for program understanding, restructuring, verification, testing and reverse engineering. There are two important requirements for a flow analysis to be applied successfully in software tools: precision and practicality. We propose annotated inclusion constraints - a new general framework for formulating and implementing precise inclusion-based flow analyses. The framework can be instantiated in two dimensions: one can select a flow analysis that can be modeled using inclusion constraints (e.g., class analysis, points-to analysis) and add a dimension of precision by choosing appropriate annotations (e.g., field sensitivity, context sensitivity). The framework encompasses a large spectrum of relatively precise flow analyses. We formulate and implement several points-to analyses for Java as instances of the framework. The experiments show that precision dimensions such as field sensitivity and context sensitivity have significant impact on the points-to analysis and its clients. In the same time, using annotations to model these precision dimensions results in efficient and practical analysis. Therefore, flow analyses based on annotated constraints can be successfully incorporated in software tools.
Single antenna time reversal adaptive interference cancellation

This paper presents the time reversal adaptive interferer canceller (TRAIC), a novel algorithm that uses time reversal techniques to cancel the presence of interferers. TRAIC is developed for broadband signals and a single emitting antenna. Experimental tests in the electromagnetic domain show the viability and the power of TRAIC.
Protein levels affect the cure efficiency and allergenic potential of polyisoprene latices

Abstract Commercial NR latex has a higher total protein content than guayule (GR) latex. Some NR proteins are allergens bound to the rubber particle surface. Washing NR latex with a non-ionic surfactant displaced these particle-bound proteins and reduced allergens by more than 95%. The cost of such deproteination was reduced vulcanization efficiency, as determined by crosslink density. The extent of vulcanization correlated well with both total protein and allergen levels. Compared with films prepared from untreated NR latex, films from both surfactant-treated NR latex and GR latex had lower states of cure. Where particle-bound proteins were still present, as they are in GR latex, crosslink development could be completed by heat aging. In contrast, crosslink development in the film from surfactant-treated NR was complete after dipping and drying. The resulting films yielded high levels of extractable protein allergens.
Effective fall treatment of Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) with a new formulation of formic acid in colonies of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the northeastern United States.

Abstract New formulations of formic acid and thymol, both individually and in combination with various essential oils, were compared with Apistan to determine their efficacy as fall treatments for control of V arroa jacobsoni (Oudemans), a parasitic mite of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Percent mite mortality in colonies treated with 300 ml of 65% formic acid averaged 94.2 ± 1.41% (least square means ± SE, n = 24), equivalent to those receiving four, 10% strips of Apistan (92.6 ± 1.79%, n = 6). Treatment with thymol ( n = 24) resulted in an average mite mortality of 75.4 ± 5.79%, significantly less than that attained with Apistan or formic acid. The addition of essential oils did not affect treatment efficacy of either formic acid or thymol. The ratio of the coefficients of variation for percentage mortality for the formic acid (CVFA) and Apistan (CVA) groups was CVFA/CVA = 0.66. This indicates that the formic acid treatment was as consistent as the Apistan treatment. Thymol treatments did not provide ...
An Economic Evaluation of the Effects of Synovex-C Implants on Replacement Heifers

Abstract This analysis evaluates the economic effect of using Synovex-C implants in the development of replacement heifers as compared to no implants. The analysis addresses the value of increased gain and weight vs the value or opportunity cost due to reduced reproductive efficiency. Pregnant heifers valued at $900 per head, a 12% replacement rate, and no implant effect on pregnancy rates, exhibit a net revenue increase of $3.50 per exposed cow. At higher replacement rates, 20% or greater, substantial economic and financial risk results from implanting replacement heifers due to decrease in reproductive performance. A 20% replacement rate and 10% decrease in pregnancy rates results in an economic loss of approximately $10.26 per exposed cow.
Pre-Election Survey Methodology: Details from Nine Polling Organizations, 1988 and 1992

Before every presidential election, journalists, pollsters, and politicians commission dozens of public opinion polls. Although the primary function of these surveys is to forecast the election winners, they also generate a wealth of political data valuable even after the election. These preelection polls are useful because they are conducted with such frequency that they allow researchers to study change in estimates of voter opinion within very narrow time increments (Gelman and King 1993). Additionally, so many are conducted that the cumulative sample size of these polls is large enough to construct aggregate measures of public opinion within small demographic or geographical groupings (Wright, Erikson, and McIver 1985).
Photonic realization of topologically protected bound states in domain-wall waveguide arrays

We present an analytical theory of 2D topologically protected guided photonic modes for continuous periodic dielectric structures, modulated by a domain wall. We then numerically corroborate the applicability of this theory for 3D structures.
GaN Materials for High Power Microwave Amplifiers

The key parameters of GaN for use in microwave power amplifiers are presented. The electron-scattering effect of dislocations are presented for 2 DEG in HEMT devices. The use of the piezoelectric effect in designing Al y Ga 1-y N/GaN HEMT structures is reviewed for a range of y.Short-gate device fabrication methods, and the device characterization, are presented. Maximum frequency of oscillation for .15 μm gates reached 140 GHz, while .3 μm gate power amplifiers reached 74% power-added efficiency at 3 GHz.
A Review of Microstructural Alterations around Nonmetallic Inclusions in Bearing Steel during Rolling Contact Fatigue

ABSTRACTMicrostructural alterations in bearing steels during rolling contact cycling have been reported in the literature for more than 60 years. These changes appear in different shapes and locations. One class of such alterations is “butterfly wings”: regions of microstructurally transitioned material that appear diagonally around nonmetallic inclusions and may serve as fatigue crack initiation sites. Over the course of the past half a century numerous experimental and multiple analytical efforts have been made to understand and model this phenomenon, yet a lot is to be discovered and understood about root causes and mechanisms leading to butterfly formation. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the crack nucleation phenomena due to butterfly formation, its characteristics, and its negative impact on bearing service life. Significant attempts that have been made to solve the problem over the past half a century are mentioned, with a focus on recent work. Unanswered dilemmas are particularly...
Computation of failure probability via hierarchical clustering

Abstract Most of the recent reliability analysis methods are based on supervised learning approaches, e.g. neural network, support vector machine, importance sampling (IS), Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC), subset simulation (SS), etc. Among these, SS approach has been shown to outperform in effectiveness and robustness, as it classifies failure samples through multiple levels instead of conventional use of a single level. Inherent to supervised learning approaches is the limitation that these only utilize the evaluated information, i.e. the information from the samples whose performance functions have been computed. To overcome this, a new scheme based on modified hierarchical clustering is proposed. This scheme, referred to here as ‘hierarchical failure clustering’ (HFC), adds a pre-processing step via an unsupervised learning approach, e.g. various clustering algorithms. The proposed method exploits the statistical structure embedded in the input samples prior to computing the performance functions of these samples. This statistical structure has a tree based on these input samples with nodes as multi-level clusters. Father clusters at a specific level are used to explore an intermediate failure region and the failure portions are sifted out. Child clusters that are attached to the father failure clusters continue to explore a smaller intermediate failure region. Accordingly, the HFC method proceeds recursively until the target failure region is detected. In contrast with the SS and IS, HFC benefits from additional information from unlabeled samples with the help of a pre-built tree. Through a relatively small added premium in terms of computations for pre-processing, the additional information helps to improve the quality of the intermediate failure probability estimates and thereby significantly reduces the overall computational effort. The efficacy of HFC is theoretically demonstrated here and supported by several examples. HFC holds the promise for complex and large-scale systems for which the performance evaluation is computationally intensive.
Hemangiopericytomas of the uterus.

Hemangiopericytomas are "cellular" tumors found in almost every site or organ in the body. Originally thought to be relatively benign, more recent data indicate that they have a fairly high degree of malignancy. Only a few have been recognized in the uterus. The present report includes 6 previously reported and 7 additional instances of this tumor. In our experience to date and from the scanty data in the literature, this tumor when in the uterus has not had a malignant course. Possible reasons for these apparent differences between the course of the uterine and nonuterine hemangiopericytomas are discussed.
The Prognostic Significance of Neutrophil‐to‐Lymphocyte and Platelet‐to‐Lymphocyte Ratios in Patients With Multiple Myeloma

Object Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are simple, inexpensive prognostic markers for various conditions. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic significance of NLR and PLR in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in terms of survival. Method A retrospective chart review study was conducted for 175 patients who met the criterion of diagnosis for MM between January 2004 and September 2014. Result The median age of diagnosis was 69 years. Patients were divided into high and low NLR and PLR groups according to cutoff points from the receiver operating characteristic curve (2.78 and 155.58, respectively). The high NLR and PLR groups were associated with lower albumin level and higher staging. The high NLR group experienced inferior median survival compared with the low NLR group (37 vs. 66 months; log-rank P-value 0.005). However, there was no significant difference in median survival between the high and low PLR groups (45 vs. 62 months; P = 0.077). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that NLR is an independent predictor for OS of MM (HR 2.892; P = 0.009). Conclusion We conclude that NLR is an independent prognostic factor for OS in MM.
Mapping paths: new approaches to dissect eukaryotic signaling circuitry.

Eukaryotic cells are precisely “wired” to coordinate changes in external and intracellular signals with corresponding adjustments in the output of complex and often interconnected signaling pathways. These pathways are critical in understanding cellular growth and function, and several experimental trends are emerging with applicability toward more fully describing the composition and topology of eukaryotic signaling networks. In particular, recent studies have implemented CRISPR/Cas-based screens in mouse and human cell lines for genes involved in various cell growth and disease phenotypes. Proteomic methods using mass spectrometry have enabled quantitative and dynamic profiling of protein interactions, revealing previously undiscovered complexes and allele-specific protein interactions. Methods for the single-cell study of protein localization and gene expression have been integrated with computational analyses to provide insight into cell signaling in yeast and metazoans. In this review, we present an overview of exemplary studies using the above approaches, relevant for the analysis of cell signaling and indeed, more broadly, for many modern biological applications.
Electrical properties of a commercial resin

The aim of this study is to present electrical properties of a commercial resin. We report our findings on its dielectric and electrical breakdown characteristics. Dielectric measurements are performed by using the frequency-and time-domain impedance techniques at room temperature. Impedance data is analyzed with the distribution of relaxation times approach, which point-out individual polarization processes in a material. In addition, curing procedure is monitored with the impedance spectroscopy technique.
Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms and persister cells using an electrochemical scaffold and enhanced antibiotic susceptibility.

Biofilms in chronic wounds are known to contain a persister subpopulation that exhibits enhanced multidrug tolerance and can quickly rebound after therapeutic treatment. The presence of these “persister cells” is partly responsible for the failure of antibiotic therapies and incomplete elimination of biofilms. Electrochemical methods combined with antibiotics have been suggested as an effective alternative for biofilm and persister cell elimination, yet the mechanism of action for improved antibiotic efficacy remains unclear. In this work, an electrochemical scaffold (e-scaffold) that electrochemically generates a constant concentration of H2O2 was investigated as a means of enhancing tobramycin susceptibility in pre-grown Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms and attacking persister cells. Results showed that the e-scaffold enhanced tobramycin susceptibility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilms, which reached a maximum susceptibility at 40 µg/ml tobramycin, with complete elimination (7.8-log reduction vs control biofilm cells, P ≤ 0.001). Moreover, the e-scaffold eradicated persister cells in biofilms, leaving no viable cells (5-log reduction vs control persister cells, P ≤ 0.001). It was observed that the e-scaffold induced the intracellular formation of hydroxyl free radicals and improved membrane permeability in e-scaffold treated biofilm cells, which possibly enhanced antibiotic susceptibility and eradicated persister cells. These results demonstrate a promising advantage of the e-scaffold in the treatment of persistent biofilm infections. Using an electrically conductive fabric to generate hydrogen peroxide could eradicate persistent biofilms in chronically infected wounds. Electrochemical scaffolds (e-scaffolds) are thin networks of conductive material such as carbon fiber used to generate chemical responses in media they are in contact with. Haluk Beyenal and colleagues at Washington State University, USA, investigated the effect of a carbon fabric e-scaffold on cultured biofilms of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The procedure enhanced the susceptibility of this troublesome multidrug-resistant bacterium to the antibiotic tobramycin. Crucially, it eradicated so-called persister cells that can evade antibiotic treatment to reform biofilms in chronic wounds. The research suggests that the effect involves the production of hydroxyl free radicals from hydrogen peroxide and increased permeability of the bacterial cell membranes. The potential of e-scaffolds for treating infected wounds warrants further exploration.
The effects of auditory training on dichotic listening: a neurological case study

Background: Individuals with neurological impairment have been shown to have deficits in auditory processing abilities. One auditory processing ability shown to be affected is dichotic listening. T...
Systematic Review of Social–Emotional Screening Instruments for Young Children in Child Welfare:

Purpose:The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act requires child welfare agencies to have provisions in place to refer young children to early intervention services, yet the socioemotional healt...
Characterization of reactive plasma ion assisted HfO2 films for low loss optical coatings in the DUV and MWIR

Thick HfO2 single layers derived from a reactive plasma ion assisted deposition were investigated with a designed film thickness of 800 nm. The film structure was modeled by fitting the corresponding variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometric data and correlated to the ratio of plasma ion momentum transfer during the film deposition. Scatter loss was calculated according to a multilayer model as well as a single surface model. Water absorption in the MWIR was used to confirm the revealed film structure. The results indicate that the scatter loss of the HfO2 based high reflective optics can be estimated by using a single surface model in a first-order approximation from the DUV to the MWIR. A linear relationship between the refractive index inhomogeneity and the amount of plasma ion momentum transfer during the deposition was established. The total loss at 2.95 μm is dominated by the absorptance loss, whereas both the absorptance and the scatter losses are reduced as the ratio of plasma ion momentum transfer increases. Appropriately optimizing and selecting deposition parameters enable low loss and environmentally stable HfO2 coatings, leading to numerous defense applications from the DUV to the MWIR.
Reasons why women have induced abortions: a synthesis of findings from 14 countries

Abstract Objective Many reasons inform women's reproductive decision-making. This paper aims to present the reasons women give for obtaining induced abortions in 14 countries. Study design We examined nationally representative data from 14 countries collected in official statistics, population-based surveys, and facility-based surveys of abortion patients. In each country, we calculated the percentage distribution of women who have abortions by main reason given for the abortion. We examined these reasons across countries and within countries by women's sociodemographic characteristics (age, marital status, educational attainment, and residence). Where data are available, we also studied the multiple reasons women give for having an abortion. Results In most countries, the most frequently cited reasons for having an abortion were socioeconomic concerns or limiting childbearing. With some exceptions, little variation existed in the reasons given by women's sociodemographic characteristics. Data from three countries where multiple reasons could be reported in the survey showed that women often have more than one reason for having an abortion. Conclusion This study shows that women have abortions for a variety of reasons, and provides a broad picture of the circumstances that inform women's decisions to have abortions. Implications Future research should examine in greater depth the personal, social, economic, and health factors that inform a woman's decision to have an abortion as these reasons may shed light on the potential consequences that unintended births can have on women's lives.
An Efficient Buck/Buck-Boost Reconfigurable LED Driver Employing SIN 2 Reference

An efficient buck/buck-boost reconfigurable LED driver based on peak current control is introduced. The driver supports pulse-width modulation (PWM) and pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) operations. The use of a combination of rectified sin and sin2 functions in the reference is introduced for the purpose of improving the power factor (PF) and total harmonic distortion (THD) of buck and buck-boost converters. The optimal reference waveform shape for buck and buck/boost modes can be set externally. The design ensures that the peak of the inductor current maintains a constant level that is invariant for different ac line voltages. The LED driver has been implemented in a 130-nm CMOS process. PF and THD are improved when the proposed reference is employed, and the peak PF and lowest THD values are 0.995/0.983/0.996 and 7.8/6.2/3.5% for the buck (PWM), buck (PFM), and buck-boost (PFM) cases, respectively. The corresponding peak efficiency for the three cases is 88/92/91%, respectively.
Sinusitis im Kindesalter

Die Infektion der Nasennebenhohlen ist eine der haufigsten Erkrankungen im Kindesalter, dennoch wird dieses Problem haufig nicht erkannt. Ein Faktor, der dazu beitragt, das die Sinusitis bei Kindern oft nicht diagnostiziert wird, ist die Haufigkeit ihrer Hauptsymptome — Rhinorrho und Husten. Diese finden sich auch als Hauptsymptome anderer gutartiger Erkrankungen der oberen Atemwege, wie z. B. Allergien, vasomotorischen Dysfunktionen und Virusinfektionen. Da diese Symptome normalerweise von selbst ausheilen, werden sie oft unterschatzt und wenn ihnen eine chronische Sinusitis zugrunde liegt, kann sich da-durch deren Diagnose und Behandlung verzogern.
Mechanisms of erythrocyte development and regeneration: implications for regenerative medicine and beyond

Hemoglobin-expressing erythrocytes (red blood cells) act as fundamental metabolic regulators by providing oxygen to cells and tissues throughout the body. Whereas the vital requirement for oxygen to support metabolically active cells and tissues is well established, almost nothing is known regarding how erythrocyte development and function impact regeneration. Furthermore, many questions remain unanswered relating to how insults to hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells and erythrocytes can trigger a massive regenerative process termed 'stress erythropoiesis' to produce billions of erythrocytes. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing erythrocyte development and regeneration, and discuss the potential links between these events and other regenerative processes.
Electrochromism of alkylene-linked discrete chromophore polymers with broad radical cation light absorption

This study focuses on examining the design principles of creating multi-heterocycle chromophores with a discrete conjugation length, which absorb ultraviolet light in the neutral state and upon oxidation absorb throughout a broad spectral range in the visible region. In this analysis, three discrete-length chromophore polymers with alkylene linkers were examined via time dependent DFT, which were synthesized via direct heteroarylation polymerization, and the electrochromic properties of their thin films were characterized. Using a feedback loop of theoretical calculations with design and synthesis, we elucidate how steric interactions can be used to control the absorption of the neutral and oxidized states of these discrete chromophore polymers. We show that systems with high inter-ring strain can be used to increase the molar absorptivity of the charged state by forming multiple radical cation states on a single discrete chromophore. We also demonstrate the challenges of electrochemical redox reversibility in the solid state in these systems, while they maintain their chemical redox reversibility.
Lower Extremity Avulsion Injuries

Avulsion injuries are best treated by removal of the avulsed tissue and replacing it as a full-thickness skin graft. Additional meshed split-thickness skin grafts from a separate donor area may be necessary to complete the soft-tissue coverage. Fractures commonly accompany avulsion injuries and require appropriate treatment. The atypical avulsion injury is a special problem that occurs infrequently but results in considerable morbidity. This injury is most commonly seen in individuals run over by heavy vehicles, particularly buses. The shearing forces involved cause extensive undermining of tissues, although the external surface of these areas appears uninvolved. This results in an under-estimation of the true extent of the injury. If not recognized, there may be either delayed full-thickness necrosis of large areas of skin and subcutaneous tissue or the development of sepsis due to deep necrosis of the fat and fascia at the shear plane. If the true extent of injury is initially recognized, a dilemma exists in terms of deciding how much of the normal-appearing tissue to excise. The proper treatment plan for the atypical injury is not yet established with certainty. However, quantitative dermofluorometry has proven to be a valuable means of assessing the viability of extensively undermined areas of skin and subcutaneous tissue. This test is easily performed and can be used for serial study. Viable areas that are undermined and left in place require an early limited debridement of the undersurface to remove necrotic fascia and subcutaneous fat. This may require additional incisions for exposure. Plantar avulsions are another separate category of avulsion injury. Traditionally, the avulsed plantar surface has been sewn back into place, although this frequently resulted in the loss of this specialized tissue. It has become clear that it is possible to revascularize the plantar surface when major avulsion injuries occur. The plantar surface is thus similar to digital amputations and major scalp avulsion injuries in that replantation or revascularization is worthwhile and should be performed whenever possible. Soft-tissue loss around the ankle frequently co-exists with these injuries, and free tissue transfer may be necessary to complete soft-tissue coverage following revascularization.
Nicardipine Reduces Blood Pressure Variability After Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is an independent predictor for early hematoma expansion, neurologic deterioration, and mortality. There are no studies on the effect of intravenous (IV) antihypertensive drugs on BPV. We sought to determine whether patients have more BPV with certain antihypertensive agents, in particular the effect of IV nicardipine. We conducted a single-center, retrospective chart review of individuals diagnosed with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) receiving labetalol, hydralazine, and/or nicardipine within 24 h of hospital admission to assess the primary endpoint of BPV, defined as the standard deviation of systolic BP, with labetalol and/or hydralazine compared to nicardipine ± labetalol and/or hydralazine. Repeated measures linear regression was performed to compare BPV over 24 h between regimens, and Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare the time to goal SBP between regimens. Of the 1330 patients screened, 272 were included in our analysis; those included had a mean age of 69 years with 87.9% of Caucasian race. A total of 164 patients received IV bolus antihypertensives alone (labetalol, hydralazine or both), and 108 patients received IV nicardipine with or without additional IV boluses (labetalol, hydralazine, or both). Those who had IV nicardipine had significantly less BPV (p = 0.04) and was more likely to attain an SBP goal < 140 mmHg (p < 0.01). Our study suggests patients with ICH who do not receive a nicardipine-based antihypertensive regimen have more BPV, which has been associated with poor clinical outcomes. Prospective, randomized, controlled trials are needed to determine the impact of specific antihypertensive regimens on clinical outcomes.
Predictors of Missed Hepatitis C Intake Appointments and Failure to Establish Hepatitis C Care Among Patients Living With HIV.

Author(s): Cachay, Edward R; Hill, Lucas; Torriani, Francesca; Ballard, Craig; Grelotti, David; Aquino, Abigail; Christopher Mathews, W | Abstract: BackgroundWe estimated and characterized the proportion of patients living with HIV (PLWH) who missed hepatitis C (HCV) intake appointments and subsequently failed to establish HCV care.MethodsLogistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with missed HCV intake appointments and failure to establish HCV care among PLWH referred for HCV treatment between January 2014 and December 2017. In addition to demographics, variables included HIV treatment characteristics, type of insurance, liver health status, active alcohol or illicit drug use, unstable housing, and history of a mental health disorder (MHD).ResultsDuring the study period, 349 new HCV clinic appointments were scheduled for 202 unduplicated patients. Approximately half were nonwhite, and 80% had an undetectable HIV viral load. Drug use (31.7%), heavy alcohol use (32.8%), and MHD (37.8%) were prevalent. Over the 4-year period, 21.9% of PLWH referred for HCV treatment missed their HCV intake appointment. The proportion increased each year, from 17.2% in 2014 to 25.4% in 2017 (P = .021). Sixty-six of the 202 newly referred HCV patients (32.7%) missed their first HCV appointment, and 28 of these (42.4%) failed to establish HCV care. Having a history of MHD, CD4 l200, ongoing drug use, and being nonwhite were independent predictors of missing an intake HCV appointment. The strongest predictor of failure to establish HCV care was having a detectable HIV viral load.ConclusionsThe proportion of PLWH with missed HCV appointments increased over time. HCV elimination among PLWH may require integrated treatment of MHD and substance use.
Wavelet-Based Profile Monitoring Using Order-Thresholding Recursive CUSUM Schemes

With the rapid development of advanced sensing technologies, rich and complex real-time profile or curve data are available in many processes in biomedical sciences and manufacturing. These profile data provide valuable intrinsic information about the performance or properties of the process, subject, or product, and it is often desirable to utilize them to develop efficient methodologies for process monitoring and fault diagnosing. In this article, we propose a novel wavelet-based profile monitoring procedure that is based on the order-thresholding transformation of recursive CUSUM statistics of multiple wavelet coefficients. Extensive simulation studies and a case study of tonnage profile data demonstrate that our proposed procedure is efficient for detecting the unknown local changes on the profile.
A quantitative electrochemical assay for liver injury

Abstract Liver diseases represent a vastly underestimated and historically neglected public health problem, disproportionately affecting those in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Patients on hepatotoxic medications, such as HIV and TB medications, need consistent monitoring of liver function as part of their standard of care. In high resource settings, this is often the case, but in LMICs traditional methods fail due to high cost and lack of proper equipment, supplies and trained personnel. To address this gap in technology and patient care, we have developed a quantitative, electrochemical assay capable of quantifying levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a primary biomarker associated with liver function. We can quantify ALT with increased sensitivity (1.53 nA/(U/L*mm2) and over a wide, linear concentration range (40–1990 U/L). The assay demonstrated in this study can be used to overcome several pressing challenges associated with effective, timely treatment of liver disease in LMICs.