cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Autoradiographic analysis of regional cell wall growth of yeasts. III. Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Summary Incorporation of 6- 3 H-glucose into an alkali-insoluble polysaccharide of the baker's yeast wall has been studied autoradiographically. Bud-growth was found to be essentially tip-growth, comparable with tip-growth of the bud of Pichia farinosa and tip-growth of the primary growing end of Schizosaccharomyces pombe . A morphometric analysis of yeast buds indicated that tip-growth was consonant with the shape of the bud. Labeled post-scission maturing buds had one of two labeling patterns; either the grains were uniformly distributed over the cell, or they were strongly localized. The first pattern was interpreted as indicating incorporation related to a mechanism of wall-growth peculiar, to this stage; the second pattern was assumed to indicate bud initiation. These cells without buds had a higher incorporation rate than any other class of adults or buds. Silver grains on budding adults were usually localized near the end opposite the bud. Their presence was interpreted as indicating metabolic activity at the adult cells' birth scars. Bud incorporating mechanisms were found to operate independently of the paternal cell incorporating mechanisms
Comparative Thermodynamic Behavior of Physically Restricted Cyclohexane and Cyclohexanone in Porous Silica

We undertook comparative differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) measurements on cyclohexane (C6H12) and cyclohexanone (C6H10O), physically confined in porous silica of pore radius 4, 7.5, 15, 30, and 62.5 nim, with a view to ascertain how guest fluid-surface host interactions affected the thermodynamic properties of the confined fluids. Our results can be summarized as follows: (a) No distinct signature of freezing or melting transition was observed for the physically confined cyclohexanone, irrespective of whether the bulk was present outside the pores. However, this was not the case for cyclohexane. (b) The solid-to-solid transition temperature of cyclohexane and cyclohexanone inversely scaled with the pore radius of the host porous silica. (c) The cubic-to-orthorhombic transition of cyclohexanone was strongly influenced by whether the bulk fluid was present outside the pores. In the absence of the bulk, the transition temperature was considerably suppressed relative to the bulk transition temperature. However, in the presence of the bulk, the confined and the bulk transitions occurred at the same temperature.
IMMIGRANT RIGHTS IN A DEEP SOUTH CITY: The Effects of Anti-Immigrant Legislation on Black Elite Opinion in Birmingham, Alabama

In 2010, the Alabama GOP took control of the state legislature for the first time since Reconstruction. The next year, in a sharply partisan vote, the legislature passed, and Governor Robert Bentley (R) signed into law, the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, also known as House Bill 56, the harshest immigration law in the country. This punitive state law was the impetus for Black elites in Birmingham to frame the immigration debate as a matter of civil rights and thus to see the issue in a new light. When Alabama Republicans moved to the Right on immigration, Black leaders in Birmingham moved Left. In this study, backed up by an event analysis of local newspapers, an analysis of interviews with members of the Black elite in Birmingham in 2013, who were previously interviewed in 2007, helps to substantiate this claim. In the summer of 2007, against the backdrop of an immigration debate in Washington, our Black elite study participants largely told us they had no stake in immigration. By 2013, many were willing to fight for immigrant rights at the highest level.
Complexity and Errors in Critical Care

This volume is unique in its focus on cognitive informatics (CI), a flourishing discipline that cuts across several academic and professional sectors. The chapters in this volume focus on motivating examples drawn from the application of methods and theories from CI to challenges pertaining to the practice of critical-care medicine. Informatics is a discipline concerned with the basic and applied science of information, the practices involved in information processing, and the engineering of information systems. Cognitive Informatics is the multidisciplinary study of cognition, information and computational sciences that investigates all facets of human computing, including design and computer-mediated intelligent action [1]. The basic scientific discipline of CI is strongly grounded in the methods and theories of cognitive science. As an applied discipline, it also draws on the methods and theories from human factors and human-computer interaction. The healthcare domain has provided significant challenges and a fertile test bed for theories from these disciplines. CI provides a framework for the analysis and modeling of complex human performance in technology-mediated settings and contributes to the design and development of better information systems.
Prime Numbers and the Riemann Hypothesis

Prime numbers are beautiful, mysterious, and beguiling mathematical objects. The mathematician Bernhard Riemann made a celebrated conjecture about primes in 1859, the so-called Riemann hypothesis, which remains one of the most important unsolved problems in mathematics. Through the deep insights of the authors, this book introduces primes and explains the Riemann hypothesis. Students with a minimal mathematical background and scholars alike will enjoy this comprehensive discussion of primes. The first part of the book will inspire the curiosity of a general reader with an accessible explanation of the key ideas. The exposition of these ideas is generously illuminated by computational graphics that exhibit the key concepts and phenomena in enticing detail. Readers with more mathematical experience will then go deeper into the structure of primes and see how the Riemann hypothesis relates to Fourier analysis using the vocabulary of spectra. Readers with a strong mathematical background will be able to connect these ideas to historical formulations of the Riemann hypothesis.
On the creep behavior of dual-scale particle strengthened nickel based alloy

Abstract A novel dual-scale particle strengthened Ni-20Cr based alloy was developed with addition of 1.2 wt% nano-Y2O3 and 5 wt% sub-micron Al2O3 via mechanical alloying. The Ni-20Cr-1.2Y2O3-5Al2O3 alloy exhibited significant reduction in the minimum creep rate (in the order of 10−9 s−1) at 800 °C and 100 MPa.
Biomarkers and Pulmonary Hypertension in Sickle Cell Disease.

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PHT), a common complication in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), is associated with an increased risk of mortality. Patients with SCD are typically screened for the presence of PHT using Doppler echocardiography, with the diagnosis confirmed by right-sided heart catheterization. Validated biomarkers could provide additional diagnostic and prognostic information in these patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between a variety of biomarkers and the presence of PHT in SCD patients. Methods: Selected biomarkers were obtained from a cohort of 76 SCD patients evaluated for PHT. The pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was determined by Doppler echocardiography and PHT was then defined using an age-, sex- and BMI-adjusted reference range. Receiver-operating characteristic curves, sensitivities, specificities, positive (LR+) and negative likelihood ratios (LR-), and positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of each of these biomarkers was then used to assess its relationship to PHT. Results: Elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total bilirubin (T Bili), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM) are associated with PHT, while decreased levels of fetal hemoglobin (Hgb F) are associated with PHT. LDH and sVCAM are the most predictive biomarkers for the presence of PHT. An LDH level of 927 U/L (AUC 0.759, P = 0.0004) provides a sensitivity of 73%, a specificity of 72%, a LR+ of 2.61, a PPV of 59% and a NPV of 83%, while a sVCAM level of 865 ng/mL (AUC 0.712, P = 0.0026) provides a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 72%, a LR+ of 2.25, a PPV of 54% and a NPV of 79% The AUC, cut-off level, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio, and PPV and NPV for each biomarker is shown in the table below. Conclusion: Multiple biomarkers have different predictive capabilities for PHT in patients with SCD. Despite the small likelihood ratios, LDH appears to provide greater prediction for PHT than other measured biomarkers including NT-proBNP that has previously been reported to be independently associated with increased mortality in these patients. More studies are required to evaluate the predictability of combinations of biomarkers for PHT and to assess the relationship of biomarkers with mortality in this patient population.
Growth Hormone Mediates Its Protective Effect in Hepatic Apoptosis through Hnf6

Background and Aims Growth hormone (GH) not only supports hepatic metabolism but also protects against hepatocyte cell death. Hnf6 (or Oc1) belonging to the Onecut family of hepatocyte transcription factors known to regulate differentiated hepatic function, is a GH-responsive gene. We evaluate if GH mediates Hnf6 activity to attenuate hepatic apoptotic injury. Methods We used an animal model of hepatic apoptosis by bile duct ligation (BDL) with Hnf6 -/- (KO) mice in which hepatic Hnf6 was conditionally inactivated. GH was administered to adult wild type WT and KO mice for the 7 days of BDL to enhance Hnf6 expression. In vitro, primary hepatocytes derived from KO and WT liver were treated with LPS and hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed with and without GH treatment. Results In WT mice, GH treatment enhanced Hnf6 expression during BDL, inhibited Caspase -3, -8 and -9 responses and diminished hepatic apoptotic and fibrotic injury. GH-mediated upregulation of Hnf6 expression and parallel suppression of apoptosis and fibrosis in WT BDL liver were abrogated in KO mice. LPS activated apoptosis and suppressed Hnf6 expression in primary hepatocytes. GH/LPS co-treatment enhanced Hnf6 expression with corresponding attenuation of apoptosis in WT-derived hepatocytes, but not in KO hepatocytes. ChiP-on-ChiP and electromobility shift assays of KO and WT liver nuclear extracts identified Ciap1 (or Birc2) as an Hnf6-bound target gene. Ciap1 expression patterns closely follow Hnf6 expression in the liver and in hepatocytes. Conclusion GH broad protective actions on hepatocytes during liver injury are effected through Hnf6, with Hnf6 transcriptional activation of Ciap1 as an underlying molecular mediator.
Two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy of Al in laser-produced plasmas

We present tunable laser induced fluorescence of selected Al transitions in a laser produced plasma at atmospheric pressure levels. Two-dimensional mapping of absorption-emission spectroscopy of Al transitions is made.
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis

• Langerhans cell histiocytosis replaces the other descriptive terms for this idiopathic disorder that included histiocytosis X and eosinophilic granuloma.
Creating Engaging Exercises With Mobile Response System (MRS)

Computer Science instructors have been exploiting learning technology such as Algorithm Visualization (AV) for last few years to explain hard-to-understand algorithms to the learners through simulations and animations. In this work, we explore an active and highly engaging approach, namely, the construction of visualizations of the algorithms under study. Our approach is further augmented with automated assessment of students' in-class construction activities, which they execute as apps in their mobile devices. In this paper, we utilize case study, a step-by-step visualization of a construction exercise app, to explain how technology is leveraged to provide a richer way for learners to interact with a problem, and how instructor can acquire real-time evidence of learners' comprehension of covered lecture material. Our experimental evaluation shows the educational benefits of the proposed approach in terms of enhanced student learning, reduced drop-out rate and increased student satisfaction.
A Correct-by-Decision Solution for Simultaneous Place and Route

To reduce a problem, provided in a human language, to constraint solving, one normally maps it to a set of constraints, written in the language of a suitable logic. This paper highlights a different paradigm, in which the original problem is converted into a set of constraints and a decision strategy, where the decision strategy is essential for guaranteeing the correctness of the modeling. We name such a paradigm Correct-by-Decision. Furthermore, we propose a Correct-by-Decision-based solution within a SAT solving framework for a critical industrial problem that shows up in the physical design stage of the CAD process: simultaneous place and route under arbitrary constraints (design rules). We demonstrate the usefulness of our approach experimentally on industrial and crafted instances.
Advancing ecological restoration through experimental design on spatial and temporal scales relevant to wildlife

Experimenting with new and unconventional restoration methods and designs is critical to advancing the field of ecological restoration. Conventional methods cannot be considered reliable in a future with climate change-induced shifts in weather conditions, species distributions, and ecosystem processes. It is crucial that researchers and practitioners collaborate to identify the most effective restoration methods, yet there remains a disturbing lack of restoration experiments at the spatial or temporal scales relevant for evaluating wildlife responses. We suspect that willingness to attempt such experiments is hampered by the perceived difficulty of conducting these experiments combined with a fear of failure. However, we argue that failure to experiment with new methods guarantees learning nothing new. Here, we address many of the major challenges of designing an experiment to evaluate wildlife responses to restoration, including (1) distinguishing between the goals and objectives of the restoration project and the key uncertainties the experiment will address, (2) designing the experiment itself, including optimizing plot size and replication, and (3) determining how and when the results will be evaluated. We then illustrate how we designed an experiment to evaluate riparian bird responses to restoration along the lower Cosumnes River in the Central Valley of California, USA. Researchers and practitioners working together from the start of the objectives-setting process, through experimental design, implementation, and evaluation can proactively address the challenges of conducting a restoration experiment and maximize the chances of successfully identifying effective restoration methods, adding to the practitioners’ toolbox, and accelerating the rate of successful habitat restoration.
A pilot registry of trauma surgeons willing and ready to respond to disasters.

Background A well-defined means of organizing surgeons based on functional capabilities in disaster response has been lacking. We sought to create a pilot registry of surgeons, organized by functional capacities, available to respond to disasters in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Operation Giving Back and to better understand their participation in disaster medicine training. Methods The authors conducted a survey of the members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma aimed at establishing a pilot registry of qualified trauma surgeons available to respond to disasters. Data from the surveys were analyzed retrospectively for surgical and subspecialty training, board certification, disaster response training, and military or civilian disaster experience to better understand the respondents' functional capacities and disaster training backgrounds. Results Of 211 respondents, 96% self-identified as trauma surgeons, whereas 87% and 89% reported active practice in acute care surgery and/or critical care. Nearly all had primary board certifications in general surgery (93%), and many had additional certifications in surgical critical care (65%). While many reported participation in American College of Surgeons-sponsored trauma courses, only 30% of those surveyed received disaster-specific training in Federal Emergency Management Agency courses, and even fewer received training in the Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness course. Few had military (26%) or civilian (19%) experience in disaster response. Conclusions This initiative complements efforts to organize a registry of trauma surgeons who are qualified and willing to respond in all aspects of disaster response. While trauma surgeons are optimally positioned to provide a wide range of surgical expertise in a disaster, this study further demonstrated the lack of a universally accepted disaster training program for surgeons willing to respond to mass casualty incidents. Standardized disaster response training for surgeons remains a challenge for the future. Level of evidence Care management, level IV.
Plague in Madagascar — A Tragic Opportunity for Improving Public Health

Plague in Madagascar The plague outbreak in Madagascar seems to be subsiding, but it raises important questions. How big was it really? Which components of the response actually helped and which did not? And how can we best advance development and validation of better tests and treatments?
Cultural Differences in Consumer Engagement in Brand-Related SNS Groups: A Cross-Cultural Study of China and the United States

To gain a better understanding of consumer engagement in brand-related social network site (SNS) groups, this study examines how consumers engage with the brand and other members of the groups among different national cultures through the lens of brand community characteristics and collective value creation practices within brand communities. Through conducting a directed qualitative content analysis of two cases—consumer wall posts in a Facebook group and a Renren group—this study finds supporting evidence that although consumers in both groups actively shared their product use experiences, consumers in the Renren group tended to explicitly express their shared consciousness with other group members, share their product use experiences in a modest and respectful way, and actively engage in social networking, while consumers in the Facebook group tended to focus on product use sharing. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
A Finite Dimensional Introduction to Operator Algebra

This article surveys some recent advances in operator algebra that were inspired by considerations from ring theory, particularly the representation theory of finite dimensional algebras.
Progress in Fracture Mechanics in the United States of America

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the progress in fracture mechanics in the United States of America. Fracture mechanics in the United States has been recognized as a technology that provides the unifying factor in mechanical failure prediction. Many of the U.S. industries are at present using fracture mechanics in design and to control structure integrity. The aircraft and nuclear-reactor industries have established nondestructive testing procedures for evaluating the criticality of flaws. Current activities in this area are to extend its application to materials with lower strength and structures with lower constraint so that the event of rapid crack growth will not occur suddenly or unexpectedly but be preceded by slow crack growth that hopefully can be detected. The insistence on the single-parameter approach has hampered progress on fracture mechanics research in the United States and will continue, if not corrected. Such a trend can have a far-reaching consequence on future fracture-related incidents that translate into a drain on the U.S. economy. In a free enterprise and profit-motivated system, technological advancement tends to outweigh basic research in support of understanding the technology. Major sectors of the U.S. industry have long discontinued fracture-related research and are at present at a loss in regard to the safety and life expectancy of their equipments. At present, there is a great demand in the US to develop step-by-step procedures that will involve the initial design, selection of materials and extend through all subsequent phases of production, that is, material specification, fabrication, inspection, proof testing and field service performance.
Psychometric Properties of the Institutional Betrayal Questionnaire, Version 2: Evidence for a Two-Factor Model.

Institutional betrayal reflects the failings of a trusted institution to prevent or respond appropriately to negative experiences. Following sexual assault, survivors who encounter institutional be...
Exploring spatial justice challenges in rural Mississippi

ABSTRACT: The poverty and food insecurity rates in Mississippi are the highest in the nation, 20.8% of people in Mississippi are living in poverty and 18.7% of Mississippi households were food insecure for the years 2014- 2016. This study identifies and explores spatial justice challenges in small towns in rural Mississippi, by examining the social-spatial implications of unequal access to resources and affordable housing through the lenses of spatial justice theory. It reviews existing literature exploring issues of food insecurity, housing inequality, and inequitable development in vulnerable rural communities and it highlights the need for a spatial justice approach in this state. This article critically examines literature on food deserts and geographical discrimination practice of redlining as an important barrier for minority populations in Mississippi to access to affordable housing and adequate housing quality. The goal of this literature review is to inform policymakers to consider innovative and inclusive ways for community development and development of infrastructure in vulnerable communities in the context of limited resources in rural Mississippi. KEYWORDS: spatial justice, small towns, food insecurity, housing inequality
Comparison of brain microstructure after prenatal spina bifida repair by either laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic or open approach

Objective To compare prenatal and postnatal brain microstructure between infants that underwent fetoscopic myelomeningocele (MMC) repair and those that had open-hysterotomy repair. Methods This was a longitudinal retrospective cohort study of 57 fetuses that met the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) trial criteria and underwent prenatal MMC repair, by a fetoscopic (n = 27) or open-hysterotomy (n = 30) approach, at 21.4-25.9 weeks' gestation. Fetoscopic repair was performed under CO2 insufflation, according to our protocol. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before surgery in 30 cases (14 fetoscopic and 16 open), at 6 weeks postsurgery in 48 cases (24 fetoscopic and 24 open) and within the first year after birth in 23 infants (five fetoscopic and 18 open). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from the basal ganglia, frontal, occipital and parietal lobes, mesencephalon and genu as well as splenium of the corpus callosum were calculated. ADC values at each of the three timepoints (presurgery, 6 weeks postsurgery and postnatally) and the percentage change in the ADC values between the timepoints were compared between the fetoscopic-repair and open-repair groups. ADC values at 6 weeks after surgery in the two prenatally repaired groups were compared with those in a control group of eight healthy fetuses that underwent MRI at a similar gestational age (GA). Comparison of ADC values was performed using the Student's t-test for independent samples (or Mann-Whitney U-test if non-normally distributed) and multivariate general linear model analysis, adjusting for GA or age at MRI and mean ventricular width. Results There were no differences in GA at surgery or GA/postnatal age at MRI between the groups. No significant differences were observed in ADC values in any of the brain areas assessed between the open-repair and fetoscopic-repair groups at 6 weeks after surgery and in the first year after birth. No differences were detected in the ADC values of the studied areas between the control and prenatally repaired groups, except for significantly increased ADC values in the genu of the corpus callosum in the open-hysterotomy and fetoscopic-repair groups. Additionally, there were no differences between the two prenatally repaired groups in the percentage change in ADC values at any of the time intervals analyzed. Conclusions Fetoscopic MMC repair has no detectable effect on brain microstructure when compared to babies repaired using an open-hysterotomy technique. CO2 insufflation of the uterine cavity during fetoscopy does not seem to have any isolated deleterious effects on fetal brain microstructure. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
The American Health Care System Is Broken. Part 7: How Can We Fix It?

Abstract Previous articles have outlined the many problems that confront America in trying to humanely and efficiently deliver health care to our citizens. First among these is that health care is unaffordable for too many. This final article describes how to expand coverage to all Americans and identifies many specific areas in which changes can be made to both improve care and lower costs. There are many ways to reduce the cost of medications, to improve hospital care while lowering costs, to eliminate “surprise” medical bills, and to cut down fraud and waste. The socioeconomic factors that contribute heavily to our poor health outcomes must be addressed.
Distribution of CA 19-9 in adenocarcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas. An immunohistochemical study of 527 cases

To determine the distribution of CA 19-9 in adenocarcinomas and transitional cell carcinomas, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue from 527 cases of these tumors was studied using a monoclonal antibody to CA 19-9 and an avidin-biotin immunohistochemical technique. Positive reactivity was seen in some tumors of all types except hepatocellular carcinoma. Positive reactions were most common in pancreatic adenocarcinomas (94%), bile duct carcinomas (91%), and transitional cell carcinomas (76%). The majority of tumors from the ovary, endometrium, distal esophagus/stomach, and colon also showed positive staining. Immunoreactivity was seen in 25-29% of carcinomas of the lung, thyroid, and endocervix. Few positive reactions were seen in renal cell carcinomas (2%), prostatic adenocarcinomas (3%), and breast carcinomas (6%). It was concluded that CA 19-9 is frequently present in several types of adenocarcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma. Immunostaining for CA 19-9 may be helpful in excluding hepatocellular carcinoma, prostatic adenocarcinoma, and renal cell carcinoma in certain clinical settings.
Effect of Omega-3 Supplementation in Patients With Smell Dysfunction Following Endoscopic Sellar and Parasellar Tumor Resection: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background Endoscopic endonasal approaches pose the potential risk of olfactory loss. Loss of olfaction and potentially taste can be permanent and greatly affect patients' quality of life. Treatments for olfactory loss have had limited success. Omega-3 supplementation may be a therapeutic option with its effect on wound healing and nerve regeneration. Objective To evaluate the impact on olfaction in patients treated with omega-3 supplementation following endoscopic skull base tumor resection. Methods In this multi-institutional, prospective, randomized controlled trial, 110 patients with sellar or parasellar tumors undergoing endoscopic resection were randomized to nasal saline irrigations or nasal saline irrigations plus omega-3 supplementation. The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was administered preoperatively and at 6 wk, 3 mo, and 6 mo postoperatively. Results Eighty-seven patients completed all 6 mo of follow-up (41 control arm, 46 omega-3 arm). At 6 wk postoperatively, 25% of patients in both groups experienced a clinically significant loss in olfaction. At 3 and 6 mo, patients receiving omega-3 demonstrated significantly less persistent olfactory loss compared to patients without supplementation (P = .02 and P = .01, respectively). After controlling for multiple confounding variables, omega-3 supplementation was found to be protective against olfactory loss (odds ratio [OR] 0.05, 95% CI 0.003-0.81, P = .03). Tumor functionality was a significant independent predictor for olfactory loss (OR 32.7, 95% CI 1.15-929.5, P = .04). Conclusion Omega-3 supplementation appears to be protective for the olfactory system during the healing period in patients who undergo endoscopic resection of sellar and parasellar masses.
Obesity is associated with a reduced odds for blunt intra-abdominal injuries in children.

Abstract Objectives Children with obesity may possess unique injury characteristics that may affect their emergency care. To better understand this relationship, we investigated the association of obesity in pediatric trauma patients and intra-abdominal injuries (IAIs) and routinely utilized emergency department (ED) diagnostic procedures (computed tomography (CT) scans and ultrasound (US) examinations). Methods This secondary data analysis utilized Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) data from 2007 to 2010. Since height data were not available, children (2–17 years) with obesity were defined using weight-for-age percentiles. Non-parametric testing determined potential confounders. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated using binary logistic regression for weight status and IAIs and diagnostic procedures. Results There were 3846 patients with actual weight recorded: 3301 (85.8%) children without obesity and 545 (14.2%) with obesity. Children with obesity had decreased odds for IAI after adjusting for race, mechanical force injury (MFI) type, vomiting, and abdominal wall trauma (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.58 (95% CI 0.35–0.97); p-value = 0.04). Patients with obesity had reduced odds for a CT examination. No association was found between obesity status and US utilization. African-American patients had decreased odds for IAIs, CT scans and US examinations after adjustment which could be related to MFI type. Conclusions Obesity appears to reduce the odds for pediatric IAIs and CT scans, but not for US examinations. Selection bias is possible due to injury severity and missing or excluded weight data. Further research is needed in other pediatric populations with obesity and blunt injuries.
Antibiotic Stewardship in the NICU: One Unit's Experience

Background: Antibiotic over-use continues to be a concern worldwide contributing to antibiotic resistance and other serious morbidities. There is considerable variation in antibiotic use across Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU). Antibiotic exposure may alter the neonatal microbiome, increasing the risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis and other morbidities. Results of published Quality Improvement (QI) projects have demonstrated success with implementation of standardized antibiotic treatment protocols. However, more information is needed to identify additional strategies to safely reduce antibiotic use in the NICU. Aim: Reduce the median Antibiotic …
Intramuscular progesterone in women with twins and a prior singleton spontaneous preterm birth.

BACKGROUND Although the use of 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate is one of the most commonly used strategies to reduce the risk of preterm birth since its approval by the Food and Drug Administration in 2011, there has been controversy recently that there may be no benefit associated with its use in singleton pregnancies in women with a prior history of spontaneous preterm birth. However, very few of these investigations evaluated the use of intramuscular progesterone in twin pregnancies. A few studies that used 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate in twin pregnancies had mainly included unselected twin pregnancies. Although a twin pregnancy is independently associated with an increased likelihood of preterm birth, the primary indication for the use of supplemental progesterone in pregnancy is prior history of spontaneous preterm birth. Therefore, our investigation of weekly intramuscular progesterone in twin pregnancies with this birth history best addresses this question using a selected cohort. OBJECTIVE To assess whether weekly 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate prevents recurrent preterm birth in women with a current twin pregnancy and a prior singleton spontaneous preterm birth. STUDY DESIGN This was a retrospective cohort study of women with twin pregnancy and a prior singleton spontaneous preterm birth in 2 institutions between January 2005 and December 2016. One group (intervention group) consisted of women who received weekly 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, whereas the other (control group) did not. The primary outcome was twin spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks compared with odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio, adjusting for potential confounders. Secondary outcomes included composite neonatal morbidity such as respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, admission to the neonatal intensive care nursery, and fetal or neonatal death before hospital discharge. RESULTS A total of 79 patients were included; 27 women received weekly 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate and 52 did not. There were no statistically significant differences in maternal demographics except for age. Spontaneous preterm birth <34 weeks occurred in 16 patients (59%) in the intervention group vs 24 (46%) in the control group (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-4.54). Composite neonatal morbidity occurred in 20 pregnancies (74%) in the intervention group and 41 pregnancies (79%) in the control group (odds ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-2.12). There remained no differences in outcomes after adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSION In our study, weekly 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate did not prevent spontaneous preterm birth or neonatal morbidity in women with twins and a prior singleton spontaneous preterm birth; however, further research with larger numbers and prospective design is needed.
Isolation and identification of the first D8 genotype measles virus in Liaoning province

Objective To analyze the gene characterization on the first imported D8 genotype measles virus in Liaoning province. Methods In this study, Vero/Slam cells were used to isolate measles viruses from throat swabs. Fragments of the H gene (1854 nucleotides) and N gene (450 nucleotides) were amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the PCR products were sequenced and analyzed. Results The measles virus isolates and World Health Organization (WHO) D8 genotype reference strain (MVi/Manchester.GBR/30.94) belonged to the same branch in the genetic relationship tree. The nucleotide homology of the N and H gene was 98.9%. Phylogenetic trees were constructed with reference strains of the genotype D8 measles virus of China downloaded from GenBank. The result showed that the nucleotide similarities between the measles virus isolated in this study and the D8 genotype measles virus prevalent in Hong Kong from 2012 to 2016 and MVi/LosPatios.COL/11.18/D8 in Columbia was 100%. Conclusions It is the first time to do surveillance for the D8 genotype measles virus since measles virus surveillance was carried out. It was of great significance to accumulate the bases of measles virus molecular epidemiology in Liaoning province, and helpful to analyze and trace the transmission of measles virus in the whole country and the world. Key words: Measles virus; D8 genotype; Genetic characterization
Mind the gap: Examining the role of gender in campaign staffing and compensation

Abstract Using publicly available data on campaign disbursements, we examine gender gaps in staffing and compensation for congressional campaigns between 2010 and 2016. We find significant differences in both staff representation and pay on the basis of gender. Women make up a lower proportion of campaigns’ staffs, on average, and receive less compensation overall than their male counterparts. These disparities are present across a wide variety of campaigns, but are exacerbated by partisanship, candidate gender, and incumbency status. We find that staffing and wage gaps are larger for Republican candidates, male candidates, and challengers. These findings provide new insight into distinctions in the political networks between Democrats and Republicans and the pipeline of future political candidates.
Contested Documents: A Neo-Documentalist Approach to Secret Police Files in Post-Communist Romania

This paper is about a certain type of contested documents (the secret police files known as “informative notes”). It employs a neo-documentalist framework and thematic analysis to examine informative notes on four major intellectuals in communist Romania. The paper focuses on three emerging themes: the power effects that the materiality of informative notes has had, after 1989, on Romanian society; the reasons informers interpreted the writing conventions of this textual genre in radically different ways; and the epistemic aspects of this type of document. I emphasize that, despite their nature as historic documents, secret police files have uncanny relevance for understanding the present-day societies of mass surveillance. Cet article porte sur un certain type de documents contestes (les fichiers de la police secrete appeles «notes informatives»). Il utilise un cadre neo-documentaliste et une analyse thematique pour examiner des notes informatives sur quatre intellectuels majeurs de la Roumanie communiste. Le document se concentre sur trois themes emergents: les effets de pouvoir que la materialite des notes informatives a eu, apres 1989, sur la societe roumaine; les raisons pour lesquelles les informateurs ont interprete les conventions d'ecriture de ce genre textuel de manieres radicalement differentes; et les aspects epistemiques de ce type de document. J'insiste sur le fait que, malgre leur nature historique, les fichiers de la police secrete ont une pertinence incroyable pour comprendre les societes de surveillance de masse actuelles.
JA:2021-24. Telling the Story – Using Storytelling to Disseminate Agricultural Safety and Health Messaging

Purpose: Narrative is perhaps the most basic mode of human interaction and a fundamental way of delivering knowledge. Narratives influence attitudes and change behaviors. NIOSH-funded agricultural ...
Higher-Dimensional Systems and Chaos

By increasing the dimension of a system from one to two, we found a new type of attractor: the limit cycle. Moving to three-dimensional space the straightforward extension from a point attractor in one dimension to a line attractor in two dimensions is a surface. But how can a trajectory fill a surface densely? The easiest way to see how this works is shown in fig. 4.1 with a trajectory that winds around a torus. Such a trajectory is given by the superposition of a movement along a circle inside the torus and a circle around the torus as shown at the top left. Each of these circles has a corresponding frequency, say ω i being the frequency for the inside circle and ω a for the one that goes around. The two plots, middle and right in the top row of fig. 4.1, show trajectories that are obtained for ω i = 3, ω a = 8 and ω i = 1, ω a = 40, respectively. In both cases, the trajectories are closed lines, i.e. they are limit cycles. In general, as long as the ratio between ω i and ω a is a rational number the trajectories are closed after a finite number of turns inside and around the torus: the flow is periodic. This situation changes when the ratio between the two frequencies is an irrational number like \(\sqrt{2}\), the case shown in the bottom row of fig. 4.1. The trajectory never closes and, as time evolves, covers the torus more and more densely. Such dynamics are called quasi-periodic, filling a two-dimensional surface in a three-dimensional space, and it is the three-dimensional extension to the periodic flow represented by limit cycles in two dimensions and the stationary flow represented by fixed points in one-dimensional systems.
Analytical applications of far infrared spectra—I: Historical review, apparatus and technique

Abstract A review of some of the analytical applications of far infrared spectra is presented in this paper, and most of the available literature is cited. A double beam double pass spectro-photometer for use in the 15–35 μ, region is described briefly, and some of the special techniques of obtaining infrared spectra in the cesium bromide region are discussed. Spectra in the cesium bromide region are particularly useful in material characterization. Slight changes in structure produce considerable changes in the spectra, giving a more specific “fingerprint” of a molecule. Furthermore, group correlations in the cesium bromide region are capable of giving information of value in structural determinations and serve as a complement to the rocksalt spectra. Many common solvents such as carbon disulfide, furan, benzene and dioxane, have large “open windows” in the 15–35 μ region, and the infrared spectra of these and other solvents are given. Some of the advantages of far infrared spectra in structure analysis are discussed.
Molecular rotary motors.

ATP is the energy currency of the cell: hydrolysis of ATP into ADP and inorganic phosphate (P) releases energy. The enzyme responsible for generating this energy currency is the ATP synthase. In a Perspective, [Fillingame][1] discusses two new reports ([ Sambongi et al. ][2] and [ Stock et al. ][3]) that present an elegant structural model of how ATP synthase works: it behaves like a tiny molecular rotary motor, coupling the mechanical force of an electrochemical proton gradient to the formation of the chemical bond between ADP and P. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/286/5445/1687 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/286/5445/1722 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/286/5445/1700
Producing multimedia engineering courseware using flash

This workshop will familiarize participants with the key features of Macromedia Flash, a software tool utilized for creating multimedia documents for the web. In this introductory hands-on workshop, the faculty participants will learn how to utilize various powerful capabilities of this software tool to create multimedia instructional modules and slide presentations to complement their courses and enhance their presentations. Additionally in this workshop, sample educational modules produced with Flash will be presented and discussed to further illustrate the power and effectiveness of Flash. Included in this workshop will be a brief discussion about other software tools that can be used in conjunction with Flash to further extend the functionality of the produced educational modules.
What Sort of Ethics Does Technology Require

This essay critically examines thenon-essentialist and anti-deterministicphilosophy of technology developed in the workof Andrew Feenberg. As I interpret the work,Feenberg achieves an important``demystification'' of technology. His analysispeels away the facade of ironclad efficiency,rationality, and necessity that permeates ourexperience of technology. Through theoreticalargument and rich examples, he illuminated thecontingent interests, values, meanings, andvoices that are built into specifictechnologies, often by experts. He shows howtechnology is transformed by lay actors whochallenge its design on behalf of a wideragenda of interests, values, meanings andvoices. My critique focuses on Feenberg'sattempt to argue from his demystification oftechnology to the full democratization of alltechnical design and decision-making. I arguethat Feenberg's framework lacks the ethicalresources required both to (1) justify thedemocratization of technical decisions, andmore basically, (2) to determine when laychallenges to technology do and when theydon't, advance democratic ideals, and why. Itrace these problems to ethical inadequacies inhis notions of interests, democratization, andan alternative modernity. A sub-theme of myargument is that our society's Lockeanmorality of property rights and market freedomsposes fundamental ethical objections to hisphilosophy of technology with which it isill-equipped to deal.
FINITE ELEMENT MODEL DEVELOPMENT OF SID-IIS

This paper describes the development and validation of a finite element model of the SID-IIs beta-prototype dummy using a nonlinear explicit finite element code. The geometry of the SID-IIs dummy is modeled with shell and solid elements from digital scans. The material properties are derived from dynamic tests and the model validation is conducted on component, sub-assembly and full assembly levels. Component level validation of the head/neck, arm, ribs, and lumbar spine is presented. The model validation of the thorax and pelvis sub-assemblies as well as pendulum calibration tests (shoulder, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis) and rigid wall sled tests of the fully assembled dummy mode is also presented. The model response compares favorably with experimental data and provides a reasonable level of confidence in the model biofidelity.
Calibration of pressure-dependent sensitivity and discrimination in Nier-type noble gas ion sources

The efficiency of many noble gas mass spectrometers to ionize gas species is known to be a function of the pressure of gas in the spectrometer. This work shows how the half plate voltage for maximum He or Ar signal depends on the spectrometer pressure and shows that the half plate voltage for maximum 4He sensitivity does not coincide with the half plate voltage for maximum 3He sensitivity. In addition, half plate voltage has a greater control on sensitivity at higher spectrometer pressures. Variations in He and Ar sensitivity and isotopic discrimination as a function of pressure are due, at least in part, to these variations in the position of maximum sensitivity with respect to half plate voltage. The maximum sensitivity settings shift to lower half plate voltage at high spectrometer pressures, irrespective of if the pressure increase is due to the gas being investigated or a different species. Therefore noble gas mass spectrometers should always be tuned at the maximum possible pressure; measurements at higher pressures should be avoided. Significant errors in the spectrometer sensitivity and discrimination can result from improper tuning and calibration of noble gas mass spectrometers.