cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A laboratory-scale pretreatment and hydrolysis assay for determination of reactivity in cellulosic biomass feedstocks

The rapid determination of the release of structural sugars from biomass feedstocks is an important enabling technology for the development of cellulosic biofuels. An assay that is used to determine sugar release for large numbers of samples must be robust, rapid, and easy to perform, and must use modest amounts of the samples to be tested. In this work we present a laboratory-scale combined pretreatment and saccharification assay that can be used as a biomass feedstock screening tool. The assay uses a commercially available automated solvent extraction system for pretreatment followed by a small-scale enzymatic hydrolysis step. The assay allows multiple samples to be screened simultaneously, and uses only ~3 g of biomass per sample. If the composition of the biomass sample is known, the results of the assay can be expressed as reactivity (fraction of structural carbohydrate present in the biomass sample released as monomeric sugars). We first present pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis experiments on a set of representative biomass feedstock samples (corn stover, poplar, sorghum, switchgrass) in order to put the assay in context, and then show the results of the assay applied to approximately 150 different feedstock samples covering 5 different materials. From the compositional analysis data we identify a positive correlation between lignin and structural carbohydrates, and from the reactivity data we identify a negative correlation between both carbohydrate and lignin content and total reactivity. The negative correlation between lignin content and total reactivity suggests that lignin may interfere with sugar release, or that more mature samples (with higher structural sugars) may have more recalcitrant lignin. The assay presented in this work provides a robust and straightforward method to measure the sugar release after pretreatment and saccharification that can be used as a biomass feedstock screening tool. We demonstrated the utility of the assay by identifying correlations between feedstock composition and reactivity in a population of 150 samples.
Results of laparoscopic Heller-Toupet operation for achalasia.

Laparoscopic myotomy has become the preferred treatment for achalasia. Controversy persists on the need for fundoplication and/or its type; when used, most series have utilized the Dor fundoplication. We report a large series of laparoscopic Heller-Toupet procedures. All patients operated for achalasia were entered into a prospective database. Pre and postoperative esophageal symptoms, satisfaction scores, and SF-36 variables were compared. Surgical failures were defined as recurrent or persistent dysphagia leading to secondary treatment. Data are expressed as mean ± S.D. One hundred consecutive cases were analyzed (61 men, 39 women, age 47 ± 17 yr). Heller-Toupet was performed in 94, whereas six patients had a Dor fundoplication because of mucosal perforation (three) or technical difficulties performing a posterior wrap (three). Operative time was 148 ± 21 min. There were 13 intraoperative adverse events managed laparoscopically, and no conversions. Minor postoperative complications were noted in two cases, whereas there were no major complications or deaths. Mean hospital stay was 1.2 ± 0.5 days, (range 1–4). Follow-up was complete in 92% at 26 ± 17 months. Failures leading to further treatment occurred in 4%. All symptom scores were significantly improved (p < 0.0001). Solid dysphagia score went from 6.4 to 1.0 postoperatively; regurgitation score went from 4.5 to 0.2 (combined frequency and severity, range 0–8). Postoperative global esophageal symptoms scale revealed improvement in 97%, and all domains of the SF-36 were improved. Although the best surgical approach to achalasia is yet to be determined, laparoscopic Heller-Toupet operation in experienced hands is a safe and effective procedure with low rates of morbidity and failure and high patient satisfaction.
THE BOLYAI UNIVERSITY AND MINORITY ELITE RECRUITMENT: 1944-1959

The Bolyai University was the Hungarian half of the current Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj/Kolozsvar, Transylvania. It was an independent Hungarian University until its merger with the Babes University in 1959. This merged institution is one of the most important centers of higher education in present-day Romania. However, it has a past that can be traced back to the 16th century within the context of the independent Translvania of John Sigismund and Stephen Bathory. It later evolved into a Habsburg institution, then a Hungarian and a Romanian University. Finally, during World War II it operated as two separate institutions with Hungarian and Romanian faculties respectively. The two were merged by the Gheorghiu-Dej communist government in 1959. Ever since, Hungarian minority intellectuals have called for the restoration of the independent Boylai University. The current paper focuses on the independent Bolyai University between 1944 and 1959. It reflects on its role as the premier institution for the recr...
Extinction risk in fragmented habitats

Population models incorporating demographic, environmental and genetic stochasticity were created from long-term data on natural populations of 30 species of vertebrates. The probability of extinction for a single population in a continuous habitat was compared to that of multiple isolated, or semi-isolated, populations occupying a fragmented landscape with an equivalent total carrying capacity. Populations occupying a fragmented landscape were modelled for a range of dispersal rates and levels of asynchrony in the effects of environmental disturbances. Dispersal among subpopulations in the fragmented landscape partially alleviates the effect of fragmentation on extinction rates, despite the models explicitly incorporating disease epidemics which spread between subpopulations through dispersal. Even moderate environmental correlations among subpopulations greatly reduces the viability of the metapopulation relative to the case where the populations are totally independent. Whether a population performed better as a single population or as a metapopulation was strongly affected by the carrying capacity assumed, the time frame examined and the initial fitness of the population. A single population always fared better when the total habitat available was capable of supporting ≤1000 adults. Thus, continued habitat fragmentation can be expected to fuel the ongoing global extinction crisis and conservation efforts should be aimed at interconnecting isolated habitat patches.
Increasing positive intergroup contact

We tested an intervention designed to correct negative expectations about inter-racial interactions, increase the positivity of those interactions, and increase inter-racial friendships. In Study 1 (n = 58) White college students watched videotapes depicting an inter-racial friendship and either did or did not write about a similar experience. Participants who wrote about a similar experience expected and actually had a more positive inter-racial interaction. In Study 2 (n = 99) White college students watched videotapes depicting an inter-racial or same-race friendship and either did or did not write about a similar experience. Those who saw the inter-racial video and wrote about a similar experience had a more positive inter-racial interaction and initiated more inter-racial friendships in the following weeks than participants in the other conditions.
Legislative voting and accountability

1. To whom are legislators accountable? 2. Collective accountability and its discontents 3. The supply of visible votes 4. Demand for visible votes 5. Counting votes 6. Explaining voting unity 7. The individual-collective balance.
The Influence of Biased Tax Research Memoranda on Supervisors' Initial Judgments in the Review Process

This study experimentally investigates the effects of confirmation bias underlying staff‐level tax research on supervisors' initial assessments and recommendations made during the review process for tax research memoranda. The theoretical framework underlying our hypotheses posits that tax professionals strive to make recommendations that meet both accuracy and advocacy objectives. Participants in our study addressed a client scenario in which both objectives could not be met because the client‐preferred position did not have a “realistic possibility” of being successfully defended on its merits. In this context, we find that supervisors are more persuaded by an unbiased memo correctly concluding that the client‐preferred position is not appropriate than by a biased memo reaching the same conclusion. This result suggests that when tax research memoranda are not consistent with the client advocacy objective, professionals are more persuaded by memoranda that fulfill their accuracy objective. On the other h...
Minimizing Total Weighted Completion Time with Unexpected Machine Unavailability

In the past two decades, scheduling with machine availability constraints has received more and more attention. Until now most research has focused on the setting where all machine unavailability information is known at the beginning of scheduling horizon. In real world, this is impractical in some cases.
Formation and Reversibility of BiP Protein Cysteine Oxidation Facilitate Cell Survival during and post Oxidative Stress

Redox fluctuations within cells can be detrimental to cell function. To gain insight into how cells normally buffer against redox changes to maintain cell function, we have focused on elucidating the signaling pathways that serve to sense and respond to oxidative redox stress within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) using yeast as a model system. Previously, we have shown that a cysteine in the molecular chaperone BiP, a Hsp70 molecular chaperone within the ER, is susceptible to oxidation by peroxide during ER-derived oxidative stress, forming a sulfenic acid (−SOH) moiety. Here, we demonstrate that this same conserved BiP cysteine is susceptible also to glutathione modification (−SSG). Glutathionylated BiP is detected both as a consequence of enhanced levels of cellular peroxide and also as a by-product of increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG). Similar to sulfenylation, we observe glutathionylation decouples BiP ATPase and peptide binding activities, turning BiP from an ATP-dependent foldase into an ATP-independent holdase. We show glutathionylation enhances cell proliferation during oxidative stress, which we suggest relates to modified BiP's increased ability to limit polypeptide aggregation. We propose the susceptibility of BiP to modification with glutathione may serve also to prevent irreversible oxidation of BiP by peroxide.
Plasma histaminase activity in various mammalian species; a rapid method of assay.

SummaryA rapid microcolorimetric meth-od for measurement of plasma histaminase has been described. Its lower limit of sensitivity is 0.1 mμM histamine oxidized/ml of plasma/minute and its reproducibility, ± 0.1 mμM. In a series of mammalian species surveyed, no activity was detected in the plasma of mice and rats; plasma from guinea pigs, dogs, squirrel monkeys, and man exhibited relatively low activities; plasma activity of rabbits and cats was somewhat higher; plasma from rhesus monkeys was more active than that of any other species. Studies of pH optimum, aminoguanidine and substrate inhibition, and substrate specificity using human plasma indicate that the primary activity measured was histaminase activity.
Screening houses for vapor intrusion risks: a multiple regression analysis approach.

The migration of chlorinated volatile organic compounds from groundwater to indoor air—known as vapor intrusion—can be an important exposure pathway at hazardous waste sites. Because sampling indoor air at every potentially affected home is often logistically infeasible, screening tools are needed to help identify at-risk homes. Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses a simple screening approach that employs a generic vapor “attenuation factor,” the ratio of the indoor air pollutant concentration to the pollutant concentration in the soil gas directly above the groundwater table. At every potentially affected home above contaminated groundwater, the EPA assumes the vapor attenuation factor is less than 1/1000 – that is, that the indoor air concentration will not exceed 1/1000 times the soil–gas concentration immediately above groundwater. This paper reports on a screening-level model that improves on the EPA approach by considering environmental, contaminant, and household character...
Potential Role of PET/MRI for Imaging Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Head and Neck Cancer

OBJECTIVE. This article explores recent developments in PET and MRI, separately or combined, for assessing metastatic lymph nodes in patients with head and neck cancer. CONCLUSION. The synergistic role of PET and MRI for imaging metastatic lymph nodes has not been fully explored. To facilitate the understanding of the areas that need further investigation, we discuss potential mechanisms and evidence reported so far, as well as future directions and challenges for continued development and clinical research.
Analysis on microbial contamination of sampling food during 2004 and 2009 in Guiyang city

Objective:To investigate the microbial contamination of sampling food in Guiyang city.Methods: 1081 samples such as dairy,meat and moon cake were randomly collected and examined for microbio test and estimated based on the method of GB/T 4789 and National Health Standards.Results:The qualified rate of 1081 sampling food was 87.33%,However,the qualified rate of non-fermented soybean products was the lowest,with just 32.43%.One frozen pre-packaged food product was contaminated by Staphylococcus.Conclusion: The hygienic quality of sampling food in Guiyang city is better.It is important to strengthen the monitoring of frozen pre-packaged food product and detecting of pathogenic bacteria of quick-frozen and pre-packed food made of wheat flour and rice products.It is suggested that the microbial standards of Hygienic Standards for non-fermented soybean products should be divided into instant and non-instant nature of the provisions of two categories,respectively.
Introduction: Remembered Lives

(2001). Introduction: Remembered Lives. a/b: Auto/Biography Studies: Vol. 16, Remembered Lives, pp. 1-6.
Externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene valved conduits for right heart reconstruction. An experimental comparison with Dacron valved conduits.

Valve-containing conduits have made possible the repair of many congenital anomalies that involve right ventricular-pulmonary arterial discontinuity. The distressing problem of neointimal peel formation with eventual conduit obstruction in patients with Dacron valved conduits has led to the need for premature replacement in many patients. Externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene has demonstrated superior patency in the venous system experimentally and clinically and was believed to have potential advantages over Dacron for conduit construction. This study compares the transconduit resistance and the thickness of the neointimal peel in right ventricular-pulmonary arterial conduits constructed of externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene with those of woven Dacron. The 19 mm externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene conduits (Impra, Inc.) containing a Hancock porcine valve (Extracorporeal Inc.) were implanted in six adult mongrel dogs followed by proximal occlusion of the pulmonary artery. In six additional animals, a Dacron valved conduit of similar size and length was inserted. Cardiac output, transconduit gradient, and resistance were measured at operation and at 3 months. All conduits were subsequently explanted, opened longitudinally, and the thickness of the neointimal peel (excluding suture lines) measured. No hemodynamic differences were noted during the 3 month follow-up. However, the thickness of the neointimal peel was fourfold greater in Dacron conduits (609 ± 144 μ) than in the conduits constructed of externally stented polytetrafluoroethylene (156 ± 50 μ) (p
Online patient information from radiation oncology departments is too complex for the general population

Abstract Purpose Nearly two-thirds of cancer patients seek information about their diagnosis online. We assessed the readability of online patient education materials found on academic radiation oncology department Web sites to determine whether they adhered to guidelines suggesting that information be presented at a sixth-grade reading level. Methods and materials The Association of American Medical Colleges Web site was used to identify all academic radiation oncology departments in the United States. One-third of these department Web sites were selected for analysis using a random number generator. Both general information on radiation therapy and specific information regarding various radiation modalities were collected. To test the hypothesis that the readability of these online educational materials was written at the recommended grade level, a panel of 10 common readability tests was used. A composite grade level of readability was constructed using the 8 readability measures that provide a single grade-level output. Results A mean of 5605 words (range, 2058-12,837) from 30 department Web sites was collected. Using the composite grade level score, the overall mean readability level was determined to be 13.36 (12.83-13.89), corresponding to a collegiate reading level. This was significantly higher than the target sixth-grade reading level (middle school, t (29) = 27.41, P Conclusions Online patient educational materials from academic radiation oncology Web sites are significantly more complex than recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services. To improve patients' comprehension of radiation therapy and its role in their treatment, our analysis suggests that the language used in online patient information should be simplified to communicate the information at a more appropriate level.
Chiroptical Probes of Protein Structure

Although x-ray diffraction studies of crystals is the definitive technique for the investigation of molecular structure in the solid state, it is certainly possible, even probable, that there are significant differences in the microscopic structure of protein molecules in the solid state and in solution. Even though it may be unlikely that significant deviations occur in the path of the polypeptide chain it is likely that the conformations of certain amino acid side chains, especially those on the surface, may vary significantly in the two states. Since it is the side chains that constitute the functional portions of enzyme molecules insofar as biological activity is concerned, this is a problem of considerable significance. The recent discovery that lysozyme can be crystallized in at least two different forms (l–3), and Vallee’s (4) results which indicate a conformational change of a tyrosine residue when crystalline carboxypeptidase is dissolved may be taken as evidence supportive of this point of view.
Cosmopolitan Patriotism Educated Through Kant and Walt Whitman

Kantian cosmopolitanism has often been criticized for professing the view from nowhere. More significantly, it is often opposed to love of country. In this chapter, drawing on recent scholarship on the topic, I will challenge this view of Kant’s theory of cosmopolitanism. Kant’s normative philosophy, I will argue, offers a moral response to the problem in ways that should resonate strongly within contemporary global/national contexts. Furthermore, through a reading of Whitman’s “Passage to India,” I suggest that he offers us a pedagogy of cosmopolitan patriotism which is remarkably relevant today. In making this argument, I will draw on Cora Diamond to argue for the presence of serious thought in poetry and of poetic imagination in philosophy.
The Failure of U.S. Organ Procurement Policy

In this article, we calculate how many lives will be lost if the United States continues to prohibit the use of financial incentives to motivate organ donation. We do this to motivate policymakers to stop implementing alternative policy proposals that have little effect on the supply of organs but that temporarily quiet the outcry for resolving the transplant organ shortage.
Principles of Pattern Dating in the Medical Legal Setting

This chapter utilizes the information in Chaps. 1–3 and 5 to focus on dating events that have occurred more than 2 weeks prior to the time of imaging. It emphasizes different patterns of injury from edema and infarction and discusses the underlying causes of a particular imaging appearance.
NOTCH1-Induced T-Cell Leukemia in Transgenic Zebrafish.

Activating mutations in the NOTCH1 gene have been found in about 60% of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). In order to study the molecular mechanisms by which altered Notch signaling induces leukemia, a zebrafish model of NOTCH1-induced T-cell leukemia was generated using TAN-1, the NOTCH1 oncogene generated by the t(7;9)(q34;q34.3) chromosome translocation associated with human T-ALL. Seven of sixteen mosaic fish developed a T cell lymphoproliferative disease at about 5 months. These neoplastic cells extensively invaded tissues throughout the fish and caused an aggressive and lethal leukemia when transplanted into irradiated recipient fish. A stable transgenic fish line was then generated, which also develops leukemia, but with a longer latency for leukemia onset. This longer latency allowed crosses to be done to evaluate potential genetic interactions between NOTCH1 and other T-ALL oncogenes. Interestingly, LMO2 did not cooperate with NOTCH1 to induce T-ALL, while bcl2 had dramatic effects on latency and progression of T-ALL in this zebrafish model. These results suggest that the transforming functions of NOTCH1 and LMO2 may be redundant, while the functions of NOTCH1 and bcl2 are highly complementary. The ability of this model to detect a strong interaction between NOTCH1 and bcl2 suggests that genetic modifier screens have a high likelihood of revealing other genes that can cooperate with NOTCH1 to induce T-ALL.
Message Design and Audience Engagement with Tobacco Prevention Posts on Social Media

Understanding the appropriate medium to communicate health promotion messages is vital for improving personal and societal health. As increasingly more people utilize social media for health information, public health practitioners use these platforms to engage an existing audience in health promotion messages. In this study, the relational framing theory was used as a lens for studying how message framing may influence social media audience engagement. Specifically, we assessed how posts from Tobacco Free Florida’s Facebook page were framed as either dominant-submissive or affiliate-disaffiliate to an implied audience of either smokers, nonsmokers, active quitters, or a mixed audience, and the extent to which a direct call for engagement, in terms of a request to comment, like, or share the post, was used for audience engagement. A three-way interaction for the level of engagement through comments was significant, F(3217) = 7.11, p < .001, ηp 2 = .09, and showed that framing, a call for engagement, and varying implied audience choice played a role in audience engagement with smoking cessation posts on social media. Implied audiences of Tobacco Free Florida’s posts included smokers, those who are trying to quit, and nonsmokers as health promotion can be targeted at the individual’s health, social support infrastructure, or the well-being of the society, and implications for strategic message design and audience targeting are discussed.
Myelin phagocytosis by astrocytes after myelin damage promotes lesion pathology

Astrocytes are key players in the pathology of multiple sclerosis and can assume beneficial and detrimental roles during lesion development. The triggers and timing of the different astroglial responses in acute lesions remain unclear. Astrocytes in acute multiple sclerosis lesions have been shown previously to contain myelin debris, although its significance has not been examined. We hypothesized that myelin phagocytosis by astrocytes is an early event during lesion formation and leads to astroglial immune responses. We examined multiple sclerosis lesions and other central nervous system pathologies with prominent myelin injury, namely, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, metachromatic leukodystrophy and subacute infarct. In all conditions, we found that myelin debris was present in most astrocytes at sites of acute myelin breakdown, indicating that astroglial myelin phagocytosis is an early and prominent feature. Functionally, myelin debris was taken up by astrocytes through receptor-mediated endocytosis and resulted in astroglial NF-κB activation and secretion of chemokines. These in vitro results in rats were validated in human disease where myelin-positive hypertrophic astrocytes showed increased nuclear localization of NF-κB and elevated chemokine expression compared to myelin-negative, reactive astrocytes. Thus, our data suggest that myelin uptake is an early response of astrocytes in diseases with prominent myelin injury that results in recruitment of immune cells. This first line response of astrocytes to myelin injury may exert beneficial or detrimental effects on the lesion pathology, depending on the inflammatory context. Modulating this response might be of therapeutic relevance in multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating conditions.
Can brain state be manipulated to emphasize individual differences in functional connectivity

While neuroimaging studies typically collapse data from many subjects, brain functional organization varies between individuals, and characterizing this variability is crucial for relating brain activity to behavioral phenotypes. Rest has become the default state for probing individual differences, chiefly because it is easy to acquire and a supposed neutral backdrop. However, the assumption that rest is the optimal condition for individual differences research is largely untested. In fact, other brain states may afford a better ratio of within- to between-subject variability, facilitating biomarker discovery. Depending on the trait or behavior under study, certain tasks may bring out meaningful idiosyncrasies across subjects, essentially enhancing the individual signal in networks of interest beyond what can be measured at rest. Here, we review theoretical considerations and existing work on how brain state influences individual differences in functional connectivity, present some preliminary analyses of within- and between-subject variability across conditions using data from the Human Connectome Project, and outline questions for future study.
Nutrition and feeding in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia after initial hospital discharge

Abstract Objective To identify nutritional risk factors for growth failure in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) after initial hospital discharge, and to describe growth in and feeding concerns about these infants after discharge to the community. Design A cohort of 40 infants with BPD was followed up for 7 monthly visits after initial hospital discharge. Data on potential risk factors were gathered prospectively. Subjects/setting Forty infants with BPD were recruited from all 4 tertiary-level neonatal intensive care units in the Puget Sound area of Washington. Exclusionary criteria included congenital or chromosomal anomalies, grade IV intraventricular hemorrhage, and drug or alcohol exposure in utero. Main outcome measures Growth failure defined as weight less than the 5th percentile on National Center for Health Statistics growth curves at 2 or more points in time and a decrease in weight-for-age z score during the study period. Statistical analyses performed Relative risk of growth failure with exposure to each risk factor was determined. The χ 2 test was used to measure association between growth and development, and change in z scores was used to examine growth patterns. Results Growth failure occurred in 8 of 40 infants. Twenty-nine of the infants experienced a drop in weight-for-age z score from the initial to the final study visit. Growth failure was associated with low socioeconomic status (relative risk=4.0, 95% confidence interval=1.3,12.6), postdischarge days of illness (relative risk=10.5, 95% confidence interval=1.4,77.4) and "suspect" development (χ 2 =7.12, P =.014). Applications Infants with BPD may benefit from comprehensive postdischarge nutrition and feeding therapy that includes ensuring adequate energy intake, parental support and education, and feeding evaluation and therapy. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:649–656 .
Association of childhood abuse and prescription opioid use in early adulthood.

Abstract Introduction Previous research has examined the association of childhood abuse with opioid misuse and dependence in adulthood. However, little research has focused specifically on prescription opioids, and no studies have examined associations with prescription opioid use, a potential pathway to later opioid misuse and dependence. The aim of the present study was to examine the association of childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse with prescription opioid use in early adulthood. Methods We used data from Waves I (12–18 years) and IV (24–32 years) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. At Wave IV, respondents reported experiences of childhood abuse occurring prior to age 18 years and prescription opioid use in the last four weeks. We conducted multivariable logistic regression to examine associations of childhood abuse with recent prescription opioid use. Results In multivariable models adjusted for respondent sex, race/ethnicity, age, and socioeconomic status, childhood emotional abuse (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.29, 1.90), physical abuse (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.14, 1.87), and any childhood abuse (OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.24, 1.82) were significantly associated with recent prescription opioid use. Conclusions Given continued increases in prescription opioid use and opioid-related morbidity and mortality in the U.S., understanding upstream social and environmental factors associated with prescription opioid use is important to strengthening and expanding current prevention and intervention strategies. Future research is needed to examine factors potentially mediating the association between childhood abuse and prescription opioid use in order to provide additional insights for prevention and intervention efforts.
EVALUATION OF INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROL OF STORED-PRODUCT PESTS IN TRANSPORT VEHICLES

Thirty-three insecticides were evaluated over a 6 year period for their effectiveness against three species of stored-product insects: the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin duVal;...
Mound builders and monument makers of the Northern Great Lakes, 1200–1600

For those of you thinking “Northern Great Lakes”? What does this have to do with Southeastern archaeology? The answer is – everything. This book skillfully delves into how egalitarian societies dev...
Service description and analysis for an interprofessional discharge clinic within a primary care practice

ABSTRACTAt care transitions, patients are susceptible to adverse events and medication errors that can lead to harm or hospital readmission. This study describes the services provided by an interprofessional discharge clinic (IDC) aimed to improve these transitions and the impact on 30-day readmission rate, medication errors, and interventions documented. Data were collected retrospectively using an electronic medical record and analysed using SAS data system. Among 167 discharged patients, 154 patients were seen by a physician only (PO) and 13 patients were seen in the IDC. Thirty-day readmission rates were 26.6% and 7.7% for patients in the PO and IDC groups, respectively (p = 0.19). Seventy patients (45.5%) in the PO group and 11 patients (84.6%) in the IDC group (p = 0.0082) were found to have at least one medication error. All patients seen at the IDC had an intervention made, while 68 (44.2%) seen by a PO received no intervention (p = 0.0009). While sample size was a major limitation, a statisticall...
Sāmoa and Traditional Land Tenure

Kruse describes the symbiosis between the Sāmoan land tenure system, fa’amātai, and fa’asāmoa, keystones of Sāmoan culture. Kruse describes Sāmoan society prior to the coming of the papālagi, elucidates the centrality of communal land tenure under the traditional political structure to support the chiefly system and its distribution of resources and communal lands. Kruse conducts original quantitative collection of archival data to examine the mātai registration system in comparison to the land tenure holdings in American Sāmoa. The chapter studies the legal and political history of American Sāmoa, situating the economic and geopolitical significance of Pago Pago’s harbor.
William Wordsworth in Context / The Oxford Handbook of William Wordsworth

In The Cambridge Companion to Wordsworth (2003), editor Stephen Gill invokes Lionel Trilling’s summation of the critical consensus about William Wordsworth in 1950. Wordsworth, to paraphrase Trilli...
Running involvement and life satisfaction: The role of personality

Accumulating evidence suggests that physically active leisure represents an important correlate of life satisfaction; however, the role that personality has on leisure involvement and life satisfac...
Automating HAZOP analysis of batch chemical plants: Part I. The knowledge representation framework

Hazard and operability (HAZOP) analysis is a systematic procedure for determining the abnormal causes of process deviations from normal behavior and their adverse consequences in a chemical plant. This is a difficult, labor-intensive, time-consuming activity that would benefit from automation. While HAZOP analysis is generally applied only to continuous process plants, it can be generalized to include batch process systems as well as shown in this paper. The main thrust of this paper, however, is to develop a general framework for automating the HAZOP analysis of batch plants. The proposed framework combines high-level Petri nets and digraphs with object-oriented knowledge representation for the development of a general, flexible, efficient, and user-friendly system, called Batch HAZOPExpert, implemented in G2. In this framework, the knowledge about tasks and sub-tasks in a batch process are modeled hierarchically using high-level Petri nets. Cause and effect relationships between process variables within a subtask are represented using subtask digraphs. Petri nets and subtask digraphs interact with each other in a two-tier organization to model the behavior of batch processes. One of the novel features of this framework is that both the continuous and discrete nature of batch operation are represented explicitly. Another feature is the modeling of operator actions and errors, since they play a more crucial role in batch process systems than in continuous ones. The first part of this paper describes the details of the intelligent systems framework. The second part discusses the application of the Batch HAZOPExpert system to an industrial case study.
Liquid Crystal-Isotropic Phase Equilibria in Stiff Chain Polymers

Most polymers when in solution exist as polymer random coils irrespective of the extent of intramolecular order in the solid state. Certain classes of macromolecules, however, do retain their intramolecular order when molecularly dispersed and behave as stiff chain or rodlike particles. Among these are synthetic polymers such as polyisocyanates1 and polypeptides2 and biological macromolecules such as DNA, tropocollagen3 and tobacco mosaic virus.4 In solution the concentration dependence of stiff and flexible chain polymers can be qualitatively different. In a good solvent flexible chain polymers mix in all proportions with little change in intramolecular or intermolecular order. As the polymer concentration is increased stiff chain polymers may undergo a phase transition from an isotropic to an anisotropic or liquid crystalline solution.4–8 This phenomenon was predicted on the basis of molecular asymmetry alone by Onsager9 and Isihara,10 and later by Flory.11,l2 The Flory lattice model is applicable over the entire composition range and is particularly convenient for comparison with experimental studies.
Fracture Fixation Biomechanics and Biomaterials

Surgical fracture fixation is an important part of modern orthopedic care. Implants are designed by engineers, and selected and applied by surgeons, with careful consideration of clinical, biological, biomechanical, and biomaterials principles. Clinically, a large variety of screws, plates, intramedullary nails, and external fixation devices are used. Fracture healing is a biologically complex process that may proceed down one of multiple possible pathways. Successful fracture healing, as well as implant survival, is dependent on three-dimensional biomechanics as the patient resumes activity. These biomechanics are dependent on patient variables as well as the fracture fixation construct chosen by the surgeon. Implant biomaterials must satisfy stringent biomechanical and biocompatibility requirements. Experimental and computational models enable advances in implant design, as well as our understanding of how surgeons may best apply these implants for each patient.
Psychiatric and Substance Use Comorbidity in Treatment-Seeking Injection Opioid Users Referred From Syringe Exchange

Objective: The present study evaluated rates of co-occurring current psychiatric and substance use disorders in a sample of opioid-dependent treatment-seeking injection drug users referred from syr...
Governing the Game: Expertise, Administration, and the Making of Colonial Wildlife Policy in Uganda and Northern Rhodesia

This chapter highlights the critical role of administration amidst the shift from imperial preservation to colonial conservation between the 1920s and 1950s. Uganda created an Elephant Control Department to integrate wildlife management with authorities’ emphasis on development and agriculture, breaking the hold of preservationists over policy as colonial wildlife officers leveraged new expertise and exported their model to Northern Rhodesia through surveys, demonstrating the importance of colonial networks and of the methods developed in colonial contexts. Not only were African subjects in Uganda and beyond crucial for enabling the work of wildlife departments during this period, they also experienced violence and dispossession from game departments, and used their relationship with the provincial and district administrations to constrain the ambitions of wildlife departments.
Hypothyroidism and Its Association With Sleep Apnea Among Adults in the United States: NHANES 2007–2008

Context The association between hypothyroidism and sleep apnea (SA) has been studied, but results are conflicting and based mostly on small studies. Objective To determine whether there is a positive association between hypothyroidism and SA in the US population. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007-2008. Participants We included all subjects ≥18 years old who met inclusion criteria. Participants not on antithyroid medication with a TSH >5.6 mIU/L and those on thyroid hormone replacement regardless of TSH were categorized as hypothyroid. Participants not on thyroid hormone replacement or antithyroid medication who had a TSH ≥0.34 and ≤5.6 mIU/L were categorized as euthyroid. The diagnosis of SA was based on participants' response when asked whether they had been diagnosed with SA by their doctors. Main outcome measures Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the association between hypothyroidism and SA. Results A total of 5515 adults were included for data analysis. The prevalence of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism was calculated at 9.47% and 1.19%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics, health care access, body mass index, socioeconomic factors, alcohol use, smoking, and other comorbidities demonstrated a significant association between hypothyroidism and SA (OR = 1.88, 95% CI, 1.24 to 2.84, P Conclusion Hypothyroidism is associated with SA after adjustment for potential confounding variables.
Using Monte Carlo Techniques to Demonstrate the Meaning and Implications of Multicollinearity

This article presents an in-class Monte Carlo demonstration, designed to demonstrate to students the implications of multicollinearity in a multiple regression study. In the demonstration, students...
Validation of a New Root-Zone Soil Moisture Product: Soil MERGE

Soil MERGE (SMERGE) is a 0.125°, root-zone soil moisture (RZSM) product (0–40-cm depth) generated within the contiguous United States (CONUS). This product is developed by merging RZSM output from the North American land data assimilation system (NLDAS) with surface satellite retrievals from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative. SMERGE, at present, spans four decades (1979–2016). Here, we introduce the SMERGE approach and describe the validation of SMERGE RZSM estimates using three geophysical observations: 1) comparison with sparse in situ soil moisture data acquired from the soil climate analysis network (SCAN) and the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN); 2) ranked correlation analysis against normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) datasets; and 3) ranked correlation analysis of antecedent RZSM with storm-event streamflow across a range of precipitation intensities (5–45 mm/day). Relative to in situ SCAN and USCRN observations, SMERGE has an average daily correlation of 0.7–0.8 and unbiased root-mean square error close to 0.04 m3/m3—a level that is commonly applied as a validation target for large-scale soil moisture datasets. NDVI benchmarking allows us to indirectly evaluate SMERGE across CONUS and reveals it can predict near-term vegetation health anomalies with skill comparable to that of RZSM products generated by more complex data assimilation methods. In addition, streamflow-based evaluation results demonstrate that SMERGE antecedent RZSM can be used as a reliable predicator of storm-event runoff efficiency for rainfall events >25 mm/day.
Assessing heterogeneity of treatment effect analyses in health-related cluster randomized trials: A systematic review

Background Cluster-randomized trials (CRTs) are being increasingly used to test a range of interventions, including medical interventions commonly used in clinical practice. Policies created by the NIH and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require the reporting of demographics and the examination of demographic heterogeneity of treatment effect (HTE) for individually randomized trials. Little is known about how frequent demographics are reported and HTE analyses are conducted in CRTs. Objectives We sought to understand the prevalence of HTE analyses and the statistical methods used to conduct them in CRTs focused on treating cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. Additionally, we also report on the proportion of CRTs that reported on baseline demographics of its populations and conducted demographic HTE analyses. Data sources We searched PubMed and Embase for CRTs published between 1/1/2010 and 3/29/2016 that focused on treating the top 3 Center for Disease Control causes of death (cardiovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease, and cancer). Evidence Screening And Review: Of 1,682 unique titles, 117 abstracts were screened. After excluding 53 articles, we included 64 CRT publications and abstracted information on study characteristics and demographic information, statistical analysis, HTE analysis, and study quality. Results Age and sex were reported in greater than 95.3% of CRTs, while race and ethnicity were reported in only 20.3% of CRTs. HTE analyses were conducted in 28.1% (n = 18) of included CRTs and 77.8% (n = 12) were prespecified analyses. Four CRTs conducted a demographic subgroup analysis. Only 6/18 CRTs used interaction testing to determine whether HTE existed. Conclusions Baseline demographic reporting was high for age and sex in CRTs, but was uncommon for race and ethnicity. HTE analyses were uncommon and was rare for demographic subgroups, which limits the ability to examine the extent of benefits or risks for treatments tested with CRT designs.
Pediatric inguinal hernia treated by single-port laparoscopic water injection hernia crochet needle.

Introduction Inguinal hernia is the most common disease in pediatric surgery and is induced by congenital processus vaginalis patency. Almost all inguinal hernias are inguinal indirect hernias, and herniorrhaphy has accounted for about 15% of all pediatric operations. In the past 20 years, with the development of minimally invasive technology, laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy has been emerging in China and in other countries. Aim To introduce a new technique for treating inguinal hernia in children, and evaluate the feasibility and surgical efficacy of a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water-injection hernia crochet needle in treating pediatric inguinal hernia. Material and methods Clinical data of 136 inguinal hernial children treated using a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water-injection hernia crochet needle in our hospital from June 2017 to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Results All procedures were successfully accomplished, and no case was converted to a different procedure; the average operation time was 16 min for one side and 35 min for both sides. Patients were followed for an average of 10 months after surgery. One patient had a line-knot reaction at the inguinal puncture point 3 months after surgery and recovered after conservative treatment, and no recurrent case was observed after surgery. Conclusions It is feasible to treat pediatric inguinal hernia through a transumbilical single-port laparoscopic water-injection hernia crochet needle, which is associated with safety, less trauma, rapid recovery, no obvious scar, and satisfactory efficacy. Therefore, it is worthy of being promoted and applied in clinical practice.
Graph Models in Tracking Behaviors for Cyber-Security

This chapter briefly summarizes recent research on the problem of inferring security properties of a computation from measurements of unintended electromagnetic emissions from the processing system on which the computation is being executed. The particular approach described involves two ingredients: (i) signal processing and machine learning to map observed analog measurements to program segments; and (ii) the program’s control flow structure which constrains the legitimate transitions between program segments. In particular, the control flow logic of a program can be represented as a control flow graph (CFG) that summarizes possible execution paths and control flows in terms of transitions between basic blocks of the executable. In other words, the ultimate goal of this work is to track the behavior of an execution using unintended electromagnetic emissions. We describe various control flow graphs properties that impact the extent to which valid execution of a program can be monitored and subsequently used for program classification and anomaly detection. Suggestions for future work on graph models are described as well.