cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effective evaluation on iodized salt intervention in iodine deficiency disorders in Lanzhou City

Objective To evaluate iodized salt intervention,provide a scientific basis for strengthening and improving long-term elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods PPS sampling method(proportion of the population probability sampling method) was taken to survey goiter rate,urine iodine and salt iodine of children aged from 8 to 10 years old by random selection in Lanzhou City from 1995 to 2009.Results Goiter rate of children aged from 8 to 10 years old decreased significantly by intervention with iodized salt,and reached the national standard to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders in recent 4 years.Median of urine iodine fluctuated between 100 μg/L and 300 μg/L,meeting the national iodine nutrition standards for school-age children.Qualified rates of urine iodine were from 67.01% to 97.22%.The qualified rate of iodized salt was stable at 90% or more for 7 years.Every year,the median of iodized salt reached the national standard.Conclusions Spreading iodized salt is an effective measures for improving the status of iodine nutrition and controlling iodine deficiency disorders.
Data survey and Analysis on Oil Pollutant in the soil on Both sides of Highway

Directing towards the lesser study on oil pollutants in soil by both sides of highway now in our country,through analysis investigation of the soil sample,we can educe the rule and reason of oil pollutants content varying with the adding distance from highway sides ,and seek out the effective reference for renovating measure.
Coverage of the Chest Wall and Spine

Advances in reconstructive surgery achieved during the past decade have considerably broadened the range of options available for coverage of the chest wall and spine. Flaps can be designed to maximize function and provide bulk, bony rigidity, sensation, or function, when needed. Local musculocutaneous and muscle flaps are preferred, but, at times, a free flap is more appropriate, either because the local tissue is inadequate or because a free flap best meets the needs of the recipient site. With current techniques, donor-site morbidity, flap survival, and, ultimately, patient outcome can be optimized to a much greater extent than in years past.
The influence of metabolic rate on longevity in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Summary Much of the recent interest in aging research is due to the discovery of genes in a variety of model organisms that appear to modulate aging. A large amount of research has focused on the use of such long-lived mutants to examine the fundamental causes of aging. While model organisms do offer many advantages for studying aging, it also critical to consider the limitations of these systems. In particular, ectothermic (poikilothermic) organisms can tolerate a much larger metabolic depression than humans. Thus, considering only chronological longevity when assaying for long-lived mutants provides a limited perspective on the mechanisms by which longevity is increased. In order to provide true insight into the aging process additional physiological processes, such as metabolic rate, must also be assayed. This is especially true in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which can naturally enter into a metabolically reduced state in which it survives many times longer than its usual lifetime. Currently it is seen as controversial if long-lived C. elegans mutants retain normal metabolic function. Resolving this issue requires accurately measuring the metabolic rate of C. elegans under conditions that minimize environmental stress. Additionally, the relatively small size of C. elegans requires the use of sensitive methodologies when determining metabolic rates. Several studies indicating that long-lived C. elegans mutants have normal metabolic rates may be flawed due to the use of inappropriate measurement conditions and techniques. Comparisons of metabolic rate between long-lived and wild-type C. elegans under more optimized conditions indicate that the extended longevity of at least some long-lived C. elegans mutants may be due to a reduction in metabolic rate, rather than an alteration of a metabolically independent genetic mechanism specific to aging.
Studies in the Efficacy of Motion Graphics: The Effects of Complex Animation on the Exposition Offered by Motion Graphics

Motion graphics (MGs) are utilized in various venues for the purposes of informing and entertaining audiences. Most graphics have intricate finishes and use complex animation to present visual expl...
The Radiance of Objects in Place

Godfrey details the rootedness of Hemingway’s characters in their material environments. Many of his literary geographies are actually “entangled territories,” to use Stacy Alaimo’s phrase, of “material and discursive, natural and cultural, biological and textual” energies (3). The work of humanist geographers, alongside the work of critics who are part of a recent material turn in literary and cultural studies, is the framework Godfrey uses here to show that Hemingway rarely upheld the binaries “human” and “natural” in his writing. Instead, Hemingway dissolves the distinctions between “nature” and “culture” or between “human” and “natural,” often doing so by emphasizing the concrete, sensory connections he and his characters have to objects in their various environments. Often that connectedness involves characters reading books (some of Hemingway’s favorite material objects) in a particular place, as if geography were constructed in part by the very act of reading.
Use of Antiepileptic Drugs During Pregnancy: Evolving Concepts

Although prenatal exposure to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is known to impart relatively higher risks of major congenital malformations, prospective studies have provided refined data that allow us to differentiate the risks of different types and doses of AEDs. As the number of AED prescriptions has dramatically increased in reproductive-aged women with a variety of neuropsychiatric indications, the evolving concepts learned from studies in women with epilepsy can be applied to a much larger group of pregnant women to improve child outcomes while maintaining maternal disease control. In addition to careful selection of the type of medication, the amount of fetal exposure at conception and in the first trimester probably matters across all AEDs. Some AED polytherapy regimens are not associated with a higher risk of malformations, although other outcomes have not yet been formally studied. The individual woman's drug target concentration should be established preconception and maintained during pregnancy, to prevent seizure worsening. Substantial pharmacokinetic changes occur with many of the medications during pregnancy and postpartum, and interindividual variability supports the use of therapeutic drug monitoring for most AEDs. During pregnancy, vigilance and close monitoring should also include intrauterine fetal growth, obstetric complications, and neonatal complications. Breastfeeding can provide additional neurodevelopmental benefit and should be an option for women on AEDs. Knowledge of these key principles enhances our ability to make treatment recommendations with resultant improved maternal and child outcomes. Additional prospective studies are needed to further define the risk-benefit ratio across a variety of medications, dosing strategies, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
ON THE FORMATION OF BENZOIC ACID AND HIGHER-ORDER BENZENE CARBOXYLIC ACIDS IN INTERSTELLAR MODEL ICE GRAINS

With a binary ice mixture of benzene (C6H6) and carbon dioxide (CO2) at 10 K under contamination-free ultrahigh vacuum conditions, the formation of benzene carboxylic acids in interstellar ice grains was studied. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to probe for the formation of new species during the chemical processing of the ice mixture and during the following temperature-programmed desorption. Newly formed benzene carboxylic acid species, i.e., benzoic acid, as well as meta- and para-benzene dicarboxylic acid, were assigned using newly emerging bands in the infrared spectrum; a reaction mechanism, along with rate constants, was proposed utilizing the kinetic fitting of the coupled differential equations.
Synthesis of Bisindole Alkaloids from the Apocynaceae Which Contain a Macroline or Sarpagine Unit: A Review

Bisindole natural products consist of two monomeric indole alkaloid units as their obligate constituents. Bisindoles are more potent with respect to their biological activity than their corresponding monomeric units. In addition, the synthesis of bisindoles are far more challenging than the synthesis of monomeric indole alkaloids. Herein is reviewed the enantiospecific total and partial synthesis of bisindole alkaloids isolated primarily from the Alstonia genus of the Apocynaceae family. The monomeric units belong to the sarpagine, ajmaline, macroline, vobasine, and pleiocarpamine series. An up-to-date discussion of their isolation, characterization, biological activity as well as approaches to their partial and total synthesis by means of both synthetic and biosynthetic strategies are presented.
The Time-Varying Nature of Electromechanical Delay and Muscle Control Effectiveness in Response to Stimulation-Induced Fatigue

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) are commonly prescribed rehabilitative therapies. Closed-loop NMES holds the promise to yield more accurate limb control, which could enable new rehabilitative procedures. However, NMES/FES can rapidly fatigue muscle, which limits potential treatments and presents several control challenges. Specifically, the stimulation intensity-force relation changes as the muscle fatigues. Additionally, the delayed response between the application of stimulation and muscle force production, termed electromechanical delay (EMD), may increase with fatigue. This paper quantifies these effects. Specifically, open-loop fatiguing protocols were applied to the quadriceps femoris muscle group of able-bodied individuals under isometric conditions, and the resulting torque was recorded. Short pulse trains were used to measure EMD with a thresholding method while long duration pulse trains were used to induce fatigue, measure EMD with a cross-correlation method, and construct recruitment curves. EMD was found to increase significantly with fatigue, and the control effectiveness (i.e., the linear slope of the recruitment curve) decreased with fatigue. Outcomes of these experiments indicate an opportunity for improved closed-loop NMES/FES control development by considering EMD to be time-varying and by considering the muscle recruitment curve to be a nonlinear, time-varying function of the stimulation input.
The Use of Antioxidants to Improve Vapor Pressure Measurements on Compounds with Oxidative Instability: Methyl Oleate with tert-Butylhydroquinone

The vapor pressure (psat) of methyl oleate was measured with and without the addition of 0.2 mass % of the antioxidant stabilizer tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The measurements were made by the gas saturation method with a temperature range of 303.15–343.15 K. In the absence of TBHQ, oxidative decomposition severely compromised the measurements, as evidenced by dramatic decreases in the measured psat for repeat measurements at 323.15 K. When combined with a room-temperature N2 flush of the apparatus, the addition of 0.2 mass % TBHQ limited the decomposition to insignificant levels and resulted in repeatable measurements of psat. Simultaneous measurements on the control sample n-eicosane (C20H42) yielded values of psat that were in excellent agreement with reference correlations.
Allergen Exposure: When Timing Is Everything

It is known that young children exposed to allergens are prone to develop asthma later in life. In this issue of Immunity, de Kleer et al. (2016) identify IL-33 as a key player in the developing lung for sensitization to environmental allergens and airway hyperreactivity.
Chemokine Responses in Virus-Induced Neurologic Disease: Balancing Host Defense and Neuropathology

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the chemokine response to viral infection of the central nervous system (CNS) with an emphasis on the functional significance of chemokine expression as it relates to both host defense and neuropathology. Available evidence demonstrates clearly that viral infection of the CNS results in a dramatic increase in chemokine gene expression. Moreover, production of chemokines in response to infection is highly focused within areas of viral replication early in the disease process and areas of viral RNA persistence during the chronic stages of disease. Resident glial cells are capable of generating a robust chemokine response following viral infection in the absence of inflammatory cells suggesting that this response may reflect an innate CNS response against viral infection analogous to the response of phagocytic cells in the periphery. Differences in virus and cellular tropism are likely explanations for the slight differences in chemokine profiles and duration of expression observed in the different models. The non-ELR CXC chemokine CXCL10 is often the predominant chemokine expressed early following viral infection suggesting an important role as a sentinel molecule in initiating neuroinflammation. Based on the studies presented in this chapter, it is clear that targeting chemokines during either acute or chronic viral-induced CNS disease may offer exciting new insights into potentially novel interventional mechanisms in treating human neuroinflammatory diseases.
Characterization of the Stool Microbiome in Hispanic Preschool Children by Weight Status and Time

Abstract Background: Variations in gut microbiota composition and diversity have been associated with childhood adiposity, although most studies describing this have been cross-sectional in nature. Our objective was to evaluate associations between body weight and the gut microbiota over time in obese preschool-age children. Methods: Obese, preschool-age, Hispanic children provided stool samples at baseline and following a 6-month behavioral intervention. Normal-weight (NW) children also provided stool samples. Stool microbial community composition was characterized using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Estimates of within-sample diversity were calculated on operational taxonomic unit (OTU) count data, and the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes (F:B) ratio was determined on per-sample basis. Estimates of between-sample diversity were generated using the weighted Unifrac metric, differential abundances were evaluated using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, and associations of microbiome features with clinical data were quantified ...
Cultural memory and making by US Central Americans

This article centralizes the work of Central American US diasporic writers and artists within memory studies while expanding on the emergent ways of seeing and being for US-born or raised Central Americans. I posit that the three cultural makers portrayed in this essay—William Archila (poet), Dalila Paola Mendez (artist), and Cristina Henriquez (novelist)—represent a tendency of writers and artists to embark on projects that signify directly onto Central America through a lens of the imagined from within the United States. Archila’s The Art of Exile (2009) explores the persistence of generational trauma and the deep ambivalence carried within migrant Salvadorans who arrived in the United States as youths during the Salvadoran Civil War. Mendez’s painting of Tayte Feliciano Ama, painted in the style of La Palma, reimagines Los Angeles to recuperate the indigenous leader of the 1930s and the Salvadoran folk art movement. Henriquez’ novel The World in Half (2009) focuses on Panama; the protagonist must work through erasures and denials to recuperate the memories of her North American mother and Panamanian father to reconcile with her own Panamanian American identity. The cultural memory work of these artists and writers contributes to diverse constructions of Latinidad in the United States through counterpoetics, countervisuals, and counternarratives.
Techno-economic assessment of energy production potential from tidal streams in Nigeria

Electricity remains an essential commodity and is one of the most used forms of energy which can be generated from renewable and non-renewable (re)sources. Resource assessment has always constituted an initial first step in determining the potential of a resource to produce useful energy. In this work, two-dimensional aperiodic tidal series data are assessed using the continuous wavelet transform method (CWT). The data were obtained from the Hydrography Office of the Nigerian Navy (HONN) in Apapa, Lagos, for the period 2011–2015. The sites considered in this work are Apapa Lagos (latitude 6°27.0′N, longitude 3°23.0′E), Lagos Bar (latitude 6°24.0′N, longitude 3°23.9′E), and Bakana New Calabar River (latitude 4°44.0′N, longitude 6°58.0′E). The CWT method, more commonly used for periodic data, was modified and applied to the aperiodic tidal data. A fast and accurate computational MATLAB Toolbox/code [non-uniform continuous wavelet transform (NU-CWT)] was developed to characterize the data to precisely elucidate the results. Furthermore, because investors and developers require information on the economic feasibility of their investments, a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) analysis is also performed to understand the economic implications of the resource. The results indicate technically and economically significant resource potential.
Graphitization Behavior of Loblolly Pine Wood Investigated by in Situ High Temperature X-ray Diffraction

Graphitization is a complex process involving chemical and morphological changes, although the detailed mechanism for different starting materials is not well understood. In this work, in situ high temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to examine the phase transition occurring between 1000 and 1500 °C in loblolly pine wood-derived carbon materials. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was also used to study these wood-derived carbon materials. XRD data showed the disappearance of a disordered carbon phase between 1300 and 1400 °C, followed by the formation of a crystalline graphitic phase between 1400 and 1500 °C. Lattice parameters and the crystal structure of the loblolly pine wood-derived graphite were systematically calculated from the empirical data. The presence of a large endothermic peak at 1500 °C in the DSC thermogram supported this observation. Selected area electron diffraction patterns showed the growth of graphitic crystallites after he...
A Decision Theoretic Framework for Emergency Responder Dispatch

Efficient emergency response is a major concern in urban areas across the globe. The problem of predicting incidents and subsequently allocating responders spatially has been studied extensively. The problem of dynamically deploying responders, however, has received considerably less attention and has been noted as a difficult problem in prior literature due to inherent complexities in the environment in which such problems evolve. We formulate a decision-theoretic framework for the emergency responder problem, which effectively leverages state-of-the-art methods for continuous-time spatio-temporal incident forecasting. We formulate the responder dispatch problem as a Semi-Markov Decision Process (SMDP) that evolves in continuous time, and efficiently engineer its representation leveraging structural insights of the problem space. We then propose a novel approach to solve the problem based on policy iteration. First, we transform the SMDP into a discrete-time MDP (DTMDP). Then, we simulate our system to estimate value of states as well as learn the state transition probabilities of the transformed DTMDP. We also design heuristic policies with which our algorithm can be seeded. We validate the efficacy of our approach on real traffic and assault data from Nashville, USA, as well as synthetic data, and highlight that our approach outperforms the state of the art emergency responder dispatch system.
Thiazolidinediones and insulin: rationale for use and role of combination therapy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The range of therapeutic modalities to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus has broadened in recent years. Biguanides and thiazolidinediones are the two currently available classes of anti-hyperglycemic agents with insulin-sensitizing properties. Thiazolidinediones, in particular, have received much attention, not only for the well documented hepatotoxicity of troglitazone that led to its removal from the market in 2000, but also for the emerging data that support the beneficial effects of the thiazolidinedione class of drugs on β-cell rejuvenation and cardiovascular risk reduction. In the US, thiazolidinediones are indicated either as monotherapy or in combination with a sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin in cases where diet, exercise, and a single drug fail. In contrast, the UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence included in its re-appraisal of ‘glitazones’ in August 2003 the continued exclusion from licensed use in the UK of combination therapy with thiazolidinediones and insulin. When added to insulin therapy, thiazolidinediones appear to effectively lower glucose levels and reduce insulin dosage in clinical trials involving individuals with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes. However, weight gain, hypoglycemia, and fluid retention pose problems in certain patients. The fluid retention may exacerbate or even precipitate congestive heart failure, which usually necessitates discontinuation of the drug. Risk stratification and careful management of patients at risk for heart failure, including those taking insulin concomitantly, allow healthcare providers to safely administer combination therapy with thiazolidinediones in patients with type 2 diabetes. Hepatic toxicity with currently available thiazolidinediones has been found to be minimal overall.
Secure bootstrapping and access control in NDN-based smart home systems

Ensuring homeowners' privacy and security is of vital importance in smart home systems. We adopt a data-centric approach to develop a smart home system over Named Data Networking. We address two specific problems: (a) establishing a trust relationship between a new device and the system, and (b) ensuring only authorized users can access data in the system. Our implementation allows a homeowner to use a smartphone to add new devices and control access at a fine granularity.
Tracking Declines in Mercury Exposure in the New York City Adult Population, 2004–2014

Mercury is a toxic metal that can be measured in human blood and urine. Population-based biomonitoring from 2004 guided New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) efforts to reduce exposures by educating the public about risks and benefits of fish consumption—a predominant source of exposure in the general population—and removing mercury-containing skin-lightening creams and other consumer products from the marketplace. We describe changes in exposures over the past decade in relation to these local public health actions and in the context of national changes by comparing mercury concentrations measured in blood (1201 specimens) and urine (1408 specimens) from the NYC Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NYC HANES) 2013–2014 with measurements from NYC HANES 2004 and National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2003–2004 and 2013–2014. We found that NYC adult blood and urine geometric mean mercury concentrations decreased 46% and 45%, respectively. Adult New Yorkers with blood mercury concentration ≥ 5 μg/L (the New York State reportable level) declined from 24.8% (95% CL = 22.2%, 27.7%) to 12.0% (95% CL = 10.1%, 14.3%). The decline in blood mercury in NYC was greater than the national decline, while the decline in urine mercury was similar. As in 2004, Asian New Yorkers had higher blood mercury concentrations than other racial/ethnic groups. Foreign-born adults of East or Southeast Asian origin had the highest prevalence of reportable levels (29.7%; 95% CL = 21.0%, 40.1%) across sociodemographic groups, and Asians generally were the most frequent fish consumers, eating on average 11 fish meals in the past month compared with 7 among other groups (p < 0.001). Fish consumption patterns were similar over time, and fish continues to be consumed more frequently in NYC than nationwide (24.7% of NYC adults ate fish ten or more times in the past 30 days vs. 14.7% nationally, p < 0.001). The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that blood mercury levels have declined in part because of local and national efforts to promote consumption of lower mercury fish. Local NYC efforts may have accelerated the reduction in exposure. Having “silver-colored fillings” on five or more teeth was associated with the highest 95th percentile for urine mercury (4.06 μg/L; 95% CL = 3.1, 5.9). An estimated 5.5% of the adult population (95% CL = 4.3%, 7.0%) reported using a skin-lightening cream in the past 30 days, but there was little evidence that use was associated with elevated urine mercury in 2013–14.
Homosexuality as Haram: Relations among Gender, Contact, Religiosity, and Sexual Prejudice in Muslim Individuals

Most research on sexual prejudice has focused on Western and Christian samples. Using the framework of social identity theory, we investigated the relations among gender, contact, religiosity, and sexual prejudice in a sample of 166 heterosexual Muslim individuals (70.7% from Saudi Arabia) residing in the United States. Consistent with prior research, men reported higher levels of prejudice than women did, especially toward gay men. Higher levels of religiosity predicted higher levels of sexual prejudice for both men and women, but the association was stronger for women. Additionally, more frequent and positive contact with friends and/or family members who were lesbian or gay predicted less sexual prejudice. However, contact was more strongly associated with less sexual prejudice in women than in men. Exploratory analyses revealed that more time spent in the United Sates predicted lower levels of sexual prejudice, and participants from Saudi Arabia reported more sexual prejudice than Muslims from other countries. The current research contributes to the understanding of factors that influence sexual prejudice within Islam and sheds light on the heterogeneity of attitudes within this group of individuals. Furthermore, our findings may help inform efforts to decrease sexual prejudice and increase awareness, advocacy, and future research within Islamic cultures.
Challenging the market logic of school choice: A spatial analysis of charter school expansion in Chicago

Corporate education reformers take for granted that market competition in the public schools system will improve education conditions. We conducted a spatial analysis of Chicago Public Schools, exa...
Ensuring Continuity of Transitional Housing for Homeless Veterans: Promoting Disaster Resilience among the Veterans Health Administration’s Grant and Per Diem Providers

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has committed significant resources toward eliminating homelessness among veterans as part of its health care mission. The VA Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program funds non-VA, community-based organizations to provide transitional housing and support services to veterans experiencing homelessness. During a disaster, GPD grantee organizations will be especially critical in ensuring the well-being of veterans residing in their programs. Recognizing the need to ensure continued access to this residential care, the VA GPD program implemented a disaster preparedness plan requirement for its grantee organizations in 2013. This study conducted semistructured interviews with leaders of 5 GPD grantee organizations, exploring their perceptions of the preparedness requirement, the assistance they would need to achieve desired preparedness outcomes, and their motivations toward preparedness. Organizations reported being extremely motivated toward improving their disaster preparedness, albeit often for reasons other than the new preparedness requirement, such as disaster risk or partnerships with local government. Two dominant themes in organizations' identified needs were (1) the need to make preparedness seem as "easy and doable" as possible and (2) the desire to be more thoroughly integrated with partners. These themes suggest the need to develop materials specifically tailored to facilitate preparedness within the GPD nonprofit grantees, an effort currently being led by the VA's Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC).
A novel compound heterozygous mutation in DNAH5 in a Korean neonate with primary ciliary dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous disease affecting motile cilia. A female neonate was hospitalized with respiratory distress 72 hours after birth and showed concurrent situs inversus. She was identified to have compound heterozygous mutations in DNAH5: c.5647C>T, p.Arg1883Ter (nonsense mutation) and c.10810dupA, p.Ile3604AsnfsTer2 (frameshift mutation). Sanger sequencing confirmed that they were inherited from her father and mother, respectively, and she was diagnosed with PCD. The c.10810dupA is a novel DNAH5 mutation that has never been reported. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report de scribing DNAH5 mutations in a Korean patient with PCD. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2019;7:165-169)
A Contemporary Black Perspective on the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia

Richard Allen, one of the authors of Narrative of the Proceedings of the Black People during the Late Awful Calamity in Philadelphia, was born into slavery in 1760. Owned first by Benjamin Chew and...
Masks for the Reduction of Methyl Methacrylate Vapor Inhalation.

Background Exposure to methyl methacrylate vapor (MMA) presents an occupational risk to orthopedic surgeons and ancillary personnel in the operating room. The purpose of this study was to identify a disposable face mask to reduce MMA organic vapor inhalation in the operative suite. Methods First, the effectiveness of MMA vapor filtration was determined in the laboratory. A section of activated carbon impregnated filter face mask (Model 8514, 3M Inc.) was exposed to 150 ppm MMA vapor and MMA ppm of filtered air was monitored until MMA vapor was detectable. The face mask was then worn as directed in the operating room during routine cement mixing during total knee arthroplasty to determine the exposure to MMA vapors during the procedure both with and without the activated carbon impregnated filter face mask. Results The activated carbon impregnated face mask was effective in reducing MMA vapor inhalation to non-detectable levels for up to 40 minutes in the laboratory at steady-state exposure of 150 ppm MMA vapor as well as throughout cement mixing and curing in the operative suite during routine total knee arthroplasty. Conclusions An activated carbon impregnated face mask offers a solution for the orthopedic surgeon and supporting personnel who wish to limit their exposure to MMA vapors due to health concerns.Level of Evidence: III.
Academic-Practice Partnerships: Building a sustainable model for Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) projects.

Abstract Background DNP programs should follow the Academic-Practice Partnership guiding principles developed by the AACN-AONE Task Force of Academic Practice Partnerships (2012) to support students educational and practice experiences. This paper outlines the collaboration between a college of nursing (CON) and academic medical center in establishing a formal process for identification and vetting of student DNP projects. Methods A collaborative committee called DNP Project Oversight Committee (DNPPOC) was formed. DNPPOC members outlined a number of processes to facilitate DNP project review, key stakeholder input, and developed several tools to accomplish the committee's goals. A survey was sent to DNPPOC members to solicit their feedback on meeting the committees overall goals. Results Medical center leadership reported improvements in the collection of key DNP project information and the distribution of DNP projects across facilitators and geographic locations. There was also report of perceived improvement in the overall quality of student learning opportunities, strategic direction of DNP projects, and alignment between CON and healthcare system goals. Conclusions Processes developed by the DNPPOC have allowed the organization to handle the increase in DNP projects and maximize organizational resources. The DNPPOC structure has ensured high-quality DNP projects and that DNP students are prepared to be leaders in quality improvement.
Inflammasome Caspase-1 Activity is Elevated in Cerebrospinal Fluid After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Predicts Functional Outcome

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a devastating neurological injury, further complicated by few available methods to objectively predict outcomes. With the recent shift in focus to neuroinflammation as a potential cause of adverse outcomes following SAH, we investigated the inflammasome-derived enzyme, caspase-1, as a potential biomarker for poor functional outcome. SAH patients were recruited from a regional stroke referral center. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 18 SAH subjects were collected via an external ventricular drain and obtained as close as possible to admission (within 72 h). For control subjects, we collected CSF from 9 patients undergoing lumbar puncture with normal CSF. Caspase-1 activity was measured using commercially available luminescence assays. SAH subjects were categorized at hospital discharge into those with good outcomes (Glasgow Outcome Scale, GOS, of 4–5) and poor outcomes (GOS of 1–3). CSF analysis demonstrated a nearly seven-fold increase in caspase-1 activity in SAH patients compared to controls (p < 0.0001). Within the SAH group, 10 patients (55.6%) had good outcomes and 8 patients (44.4%) had poor outcomes. Mean caspase-1 activity in the poor outcome group was approximately three-times higher than the good outcome group (p = 0.001). Caspase-1 activity was significantly correlated with GOS score (r = − 0.705, p = 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that caspase-1 activity can accurately differentiate between patients with good versus poor functional outcome (area under the curve 0.944, p = 0.002). Inflammasome-derived caspase-1 activity is elevated in the CSF of SAH patients compared to controls and higher levels correlate with worse functional outcome.
Clinical consequences of contaminated blood cultures in adult hospitalized patients at an institution utilizing a rapid blood-culture identification system.

Objective: To assess the clinical impact of contaminated blood cultures in hospitalized patients during a period when rapid diagnostic testing using a FilmArray Blood Culture Identification (BCID) panel was in use. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Single academic medical center. Participants: Patients who had blood culture(s) performed during an admission between June 2014 and December 2016. Methods: Length of hospital stay and days of antibiotic therapy were assessed in relation to blood-culture contamination using generalized linear models with univariable and multivariable analyses. Results: Among 11,474 patients who had blood cultures performed, the adjusted mean length of hospital stay for patients with contaminated blood-culture episodes (N = 464) was 12.3 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.4–13.2) compared to 11.5 days (95% CI, 11.0–11.9) for patients (N = 11,010) with negative blood-culture episodes (P = .032). The adjusted mean durations of antibiotic therapy for patients with contaminated and negative blood-culture episodes were 6.0 days (95% CI, 5.3–6.7) and 5.2 days (95% CI, 4.9–5.4), respectively (P = .011). Conclusions: Despite the use of molecular-based, rapid blood-culture identification, contamination of blood cultures continues to result in prolonged hospital stay and unnecessary antibiotic therapy in hospitalized patients.
User experience testing in the open textbook adaptation workflow

As library publishers and open education programs grow, it is imperative that we integrate practices in our workflows that prioritize and include end users. Although there is information available on best practices for user testing and accessibility compliance, more can be done to give insight into the library publishing context. This study examines the user and accessibility testing workflow during the modification of an existing open textbook using Pressbooks at Texas Tech University.
The effect of a randomized controlled physical activity trial on health related quality of life in metabolically unhealthy African-American women: FIERCE STUDY.

Abstract Purpose African-American women (AAW) are more likely to be metabolically unhealthy than White women (WW). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased breast cancer risk and mortality from breast cancer is greater in AAW compared to WW. Data show MetS affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Exercise studies report improvements in MetS, however, no study to date has examined HRQoL in metabolically unhealthy AAW enrolled in an exercise trial. Methods This report examined the effect of a 6-month, 3-arm (supervised exercise, home-based exercise, control) randomized exercise controlled trial on HRQoL among 213 obese, metabolically unhealthy, postmenopausal AAW at high risk for breast cancer. Results Certain baseline participant characteristics were related to baseline HRQoL dimensions. The “exercise group” (supervised group combined with the home-based group) showed significantly greater improvement in health change scores (M = 13.6, SD = 3.1) compared to the control group (M = 0.7, SD = 4.4) (p = 0.02) over the 6-month study period. There were no significant differences in HRQoL change scores between the 3 study groups, however, although non-significant, data indicated most HRQoL change scores were more favorable in the supervised group. Conclusion While significant improvement occurred in health change scores in the combined supervised and home-based group compared to the control group, we did not observe any significant differences on HRQoL change scores between all three study groups. However, while non-significant, there was a trend for more favorable HRQoL change scores in the supervised group versus the home-based and control groups. Additional research is needed to further explore this topic.
”Would the smart cane benefit me?”: Perceptions of the Visually Impaired towards Smart Canes

The white cane is used as one of the options for mobility by people who are blind or visually impaired (BVI) but it comes with limitations like the lack of overhead detection and recognition of safety hazards. Smart canes were designed to address some of the white cane’s issues but the adoption of this technology has been minimal. We spoke with 16 BVI participants for an in-depth view on their smart cane experiences and needs. While the biggest concern was related to cost, we found that other factors like product consistency, durability, and the lack of awareness, trust, and confidence from the users all contribute to the low adoption rate of smart canes.
Informal Land Subdivision and Real Estate Regularization: A Comparative Study between Colombia and Brazil

In historical terms, the remarkable growth in population experienced by the city of Bogota, Colombia?whose number of inhabitants has risen from 100,000 to about 8,000,000 people in the last ten decades?x has generated a pressure toward land sub division and occupation of urban soil. This pressure has been met by means of informal subdivisions developed by private agents, locally known as "pirate subdividers."2 Consequently, the growth of the metropolis has been based on a strategy of subdivision and occupation of the urban soil that is dictated by the economic forces of the market rather than by public policies of urban planning or by measures aiming at the social organization of residences that have turned out to be incompatible with the demands of urban expansion. However, this process of building a city beyond the formally imposed limits of public policies for urban planning or the social organization of residences has been done mostly on private land; this is different from what has happened in other metropolises of the subcontinent, where the social pressure for residences has led mainly to the invasion of public land (as is the case in most Brazil ian cities). In this sense, within a similar context of Latin Ameri can accelerated urban expansion we have observed two different and contradictory processes of illegal appropriation of the soil.
Implementation of a ‘Hypothermia for HIE’ program: 2-year experience in a single NICU

Hypothermia has been shown to be neuroprotective in some newborns with moderate-to-severe perinatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). In 2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that institutions that choose to use therapeutic hypothermia do so in the context of a rigorous protocol, with systematic collection of patient data including neurodevelopmental follow-up. In this report, we describe our experience with implementation of a 'Hypothermia for HIE' program in a single tertiary care Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Important components of the program include detailed protocols, staff and outreach education, early initiation of cooling in both inborn and outborn patients, maintaining stable hypothermia during neonatal transport, and comprehensive neurologic evaluation including serial EEGs, brain MRI and neurodevelopmental follow-up. In the first 2 years of the program, we have used hypothermia therapy in 21 patients, 18 with perinatal and 3 with early postnatal events leading to HIE. Eleven of fifteen outborn patients were cooled prior to and during transport, resulting in initiation of therapy 3 h sooner than if therapy had been delayed until arrival at our center. While lowering the body temperature of encephalopathic newborns is not difficult, addressing the complex medical problems of this vulnerable group of patients requires an experienced multidisciplinary team in regional referral centers.
Metal complex-catalyzed redistribution reactions of organosilanes: IV. Redistribution reactions of methylsiloxanes catalyzed by transition metal complexes

Abstract Redistribution reactions of a variety of hydrogen-substituted siloxanes are catalyzed by various transition metal complexes of iridium and rhodium. The products arise from breaking and remaking of SiC, SiH, and SiO bonds. Siloxanes not possessing a SiH bond are inert under the conditions studied. The most favored reaction pathway appears to scramble preferentially the groups directly attached to the silicon bearing the hydrogen atom. A new cyclo-iridiadisiloxane, L 2 (CO)(H)I r(SiMeROS iMeR) (L  Ph 3 P; R = Me 3 SiO) is reported. This compound exists in three isomeric forms as a consequence of the spatial arrangements of the R and Me groups on the ring.
Clinical Applications of Cognitive Therapy

As cognitive therapy has developed over the past decade, its model has been adapted to treat a wide variety of clinical problems and populations. This volume provides an integrated approach to the use of cognitive therapy in dealing with the clinical syndromes and personality disorders that are most
Fish biodiversity sampling in stream ecosystems: a process for evaluating the appropriate types and amount of gear

Because human impacts and climate change threaten aquatic ecosystems, a need exists to quantify catchment-scale biodiversity patterns and identify conservation actions that can mitigate adverse human impacts on aquatic biota. Whereas many traditional aquatic resource questions can be answered by repeatedly sampling a few target species with limited types of gear in the same habitats, sampling fish biodiversity patterns at larger scales requires a different approach. Researchers and managers need to determine the types of sampling gear and amount of effort that provide a representative estimate of biodiversity in a range of habitats across a catchment. Using a randomized block design within a 90-m stream reach that contained the same habitats as the scientific study area, fish assemblages were compared using three different types of gear (minnow traps, backpack electrofishing, and hoop nets) at three levels of effort (one, two, and three mixed-gear units) over four replicate days. A mixture of gear types best quantified fish assemblages. A combination of 10 minnow traps, 20-m of backpack electrofishing, and two hoop nets caught the most species. Additional gear added few new species. Resampling confirmed these results. When researchers and managers initiate sampling on a new stream or river system, they do not know how effective each gear type is and whether their sampling effort is adequate. Although the types and amount of gear may be different for other studies, systems, and research questions, the five-step process described here for making sampling decisions and evaluating sampling efficiency can be applied widely to any system to restore, manage, and conserve aquatic ecosystems. It is believed that incorporating this gear-evaluation process into a wide variety of studies and ecosystems will increase rigour within and across aquatic biodiversity studies. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF Au4X TYPE ORDERED ALLOYS

Magnetic properties of Au4(Mn1-xCrx) and Au4(Mn1-xVx) are presented as typical examples to represent the sensitive magnetic transitions depending on the choice of X atoms in the Au4X type alloys. In the former, the ferromagnetic alloy (Tc ~ 360 °K at x = 0) changes into the antiferromagnetic alloy (TN ~ 380 °K at x = 1), the transition occurring at x ~ 0.8. The paramagnetic Curie point changes smoothly from positive at low x to negative at high x passing through zero near x = 0.8. In the second system, all the alloys are ferromagnetic. However, the magnetic moment of V deviates from the value of 2 µβ, expected from the structural requirements, at x ~ 0.4, as x increases, and reaches the value of 1 µβ at x = 1.
Tournaments of Value: Sociability and Hierarchy in a Yemeni Town

Tournaments of Value: Sociability and Hierarchy in. Yemeni Town. Anne Meneley. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1996. 216 pp.
Behavioral responses of streamer F mutants of Dictyostelium discoideum: effects of cyclic GMP on cell motility.

Streamer F (stmF) mutants have a prolonged increase in intracellular cGMP in response to addition of the chemoattractant cAMP. The speed of movement and area of stmF cells were quantitated as the cells were stimulated with a rapid, uniform increase in extracellular cAMP. The speed of stmF cells rapidly drops as does that of the wild-type, but then requires about 300 seconds to recover. In contrast, the speed of the parental strain, XP55, recovers within 60–70 seconds. This prolonged drop in speed correlates with the time during which intracellular cGMP remains high, suggesting that intracellular cGMP induces this prolonged reduction in speed. Mutants from other streamer complementation groups do not show this altered response. Area measurements indicate that stmF cells do not cringe or round up as XP55 does, but spread with the same kinetics as XP55. Chemotactic orientation of the stmF cells in stable spatial gradients is similar to or slightly greater than that of the wild-type. Tracking of cells moving during aggregation indicates that the stmF cells show large drops in speed between pulses, resulting in the banding pattern seen in streams. The cells can still respond to new pulses, resulting in an aggregation time that is similar to that of XP55.