cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A fast and objective multidimensional kernel density estimation method

Numerous facets of scientific research implicitly or explicitly call for the estimation of probability densities. Histograms and kernel density estimates (KDEs) are two commonly used techniques for estimating such information, with the KDE generally providing a higher fidelity representation of the probability density function (PDF). Both methods require specification of either a bin width or a kernel bandwidth. While techniques exist for choosing the kernel bandwidth optimally and objectively, they are computationally intensive, since they require repeated calculation of the KDE. A solution for objectively and optimally choosing both the kernel shape and width has recently been developed by Bernacchia and Pigolotti (2011). While this solution theoretically applies to multidimensional KDEs, it has not been clear how to practically do so.A method for practically extending the Bernacchia-Pigolotti KDE to multidimensions is introduced. This multidimensional extension is combined with a recently-developed computational improvement to their method that makes it computationally efficient: a 2D KDE on 10 5 samples only takes 1źs on a modern workstation. This fast and objective KDE method, called the fastKDE method, retains the excellent statistical convergence properties that have been demonstrated for univariate samples. The fastKDE method exhibits statistical accuracy that is comparable to state-of-the-science KDE methods publicly available in R , and it produces kernel density estimates several orders of magnitude faster. The fastKDE method does an excellent job of encoding covariance information for bivariate samples. This property allows for direct calculation of conditional PDFs with fastKDE. It is demonstrated how this capability might be leveraged for detecting non-trivial relationships between quantities in physical systems, such as transitional behavior. A multidimensional, fast, and robust kernel density estimation is proposed: fastKDE.fastKDE has statistical performance comparable to state-of-the-science kernel density estimate packages in R.fastKDE is demonstrably orders of magnitude faster than comparable, state-of-the-science density estimate packages in R.A Python-based implementation of fastKDE is available at https://bitbucket.org/lbl-cascade/fastkde.
Post-tectonic landscape evolution of a coupled basin and range: Pinaleño Mountains and Safford Basin, southeastern Arizona

The Pinaleno Mountains and adjacent Safford Basin are a landscape defined by the extensional tectonics of the Basin and Range physiographic province. However, over the last ∼4 m.y., this coupled basin and range have been actively degrading in the absence of widespread regional extension. While rates of relief generation and upland erosion during active subsidence ca. 12–5 Ma are reflected in the geometry of the basin’s structure and the stratigraphy it contains, rates of post-tectonic landscape evolution from the Pliocene to the present have been heretofore unknown. We combined topographic analyses of the Pinaleno Mountains with cosmogenic nuclide–derived catchment-averaged erosion rates and burial dates of axial and piedmont deposits to quantify rates of post-tectonic landscape evolution and define a chronology for the last stages of deposition and subsequent incision in Safford Basin. In addition to constraining the timing of a deposit’s formation, cosmogenic nuclide burial dates provide paleo-upland erosion rates at the time of deposition. Erosion rates in the Pinaleno Mountains have been generally moderate over the past 4 m.y., ranging between ∼30 and 60 m/m.y. with no strong relationship to the drainage basins’ modern topography. A potential acceleration of erosion rates to 100–250 m/m.y. between 3.5 and 2 Ma correlates with an inferred period of enhanced precipitation as well as the arrival from upstream of the Gila River in Safford Basin sometime shortly before 2.8 Ma. Widespread incision of Safford Basin was under way by ca. 2 Ma, as recorded by the dissection of piedmont basin highstand deposits (Frye Mesa) and two intermediate Gila River terraces on the northeast margin of Safford Basin (dated to 1.8 Ma and 0.64 Ma). Gila River incision rates have ranged from 30 to 60 m/m.y. over the past 3 m.y. Paleo-upland erosion rates and modern millennial-scale upland erosion rates fall within the same range as incision rates of the Gila River in Safford Basin, suggesting that upland erosion rates are predominantly a function of base-level fall driven by axial incision. However, based on similarities between catchment-averaged erosion rates and topography from basins draining into the integrated Safford Basin and the still internally drained Sulphur Springs Basin to the south, it appears that upland erosion rates during the Quaternary are not being driven exclusively by regional incision rates.
A Comparison of Organic Solvent Extracts and the Fatty Acid Composition of Nonpolar Lipids of Shed Skins from Male and Female Corn Snakes (Elaphe guttata guttata)

In order to characterize the differences in chemical composition between male and female integument, shed skins of corn snakes (Elaphe guttata guttata) were sequentially extracted with hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol. Nonpolar (hexane) and polar (methanol) organic solvents extracted greater mass from male than female shed skins. A comparative analysis of the fatty acid composition of hexane extracts indicated no significant sexual differences in the chemical composition of nonpolar lipids found in the shed skins. Within the detection limits of this analysis, it is unlikely that corn snakes use nonpolar lipids for sex identification during the non-breeding season, because the fatty acid composition of the
Quantitative studies on the pars tuberalis of the hypophysis cerebri

The pars tuberalis has been shown to be a distinct portion of the epithelial hypophysis both embryologically and histologically.1, 2 Whether it serves a distinct function, if any, has not been determined.3The method employed has been that utilized by Hammar, Rasmussen4 and others. The three parts of the epithelial hypophysis were carefully outlined on paper of uniform thickness using serial sections and the projection microscope. The several parts were then cut out with scissors, and weighed. The volume of each part was determined in per cent of the total volume of the entire epithelial hypophysis. Then the value of the pars tuberalis in per cent of the pars intermedia was calculated.In seventeen amphibia examined, there is great variation in the relative size of the pars tuberalis and the pars intermedia. In the tailed amphibia the pars tuberalis is relatively much larger than it is in the Anura. In Plethodon gutinosus and P. cinereus it is from one and a half to nearly five times as large as the pars in...
Evaluation of a Case-Based Course in Transfusion Medicine for Third-Year Medical Students

A case-based course on transfusion medicine (TM) for third-year students was developed and evaluated. Cases provided the relevant clinical context in which to learn and apply knowledge concerning red cell transfusion, autologous transfusions, transfusion reactions, or use of blood components. Small groups (n=12) discussed their understanding and management of two cases adapted for the American Association of Blood Banks’ Blood Transfusion Therapy patient management problems workbook in two 3- hour sessions. A total of 36 students took the TM course during each clerkship, while 12 students served as a comparison group. Quizzes were given before and after the course in the first clerkship; for the second, third, and fourth clerkships, quizzes were given only after the course. Student reactions to the course were also obtained. Results indicated a significant gain in knowledge about TM from before to after course quiz scores, which were not higher for students taking the course later in the third year. Sixty-one percent of the students listed case discussion as the best-liked aspect of the course. We concluded that the case-based course was effective and helped students learn TM information not obtained during the clerkship.
Papillary Thyroid Cancer

A 41-year-old male with a history of hypertension and multinodular goiter was found to have concerning features on a follow-up thyroid ultrasound. His thyroid ultrasound showed bilateral enlarging nodules with calcifications. The nodule in the right upper pole was 2.8 × 2.0 × 2.0 cm and in the left lower pole was 3.0 × 1.7 × 1.1 cm. He subsequently underwent ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration of these nodules, revealing cellular adenomatoid nodule in the right nodule and findings highly suspicious for papillary carcinoma in the left nodule (i.e., areas of moderate cellularity, enlarged cells with focal nuclear pleomorphism, and single cells with dense cytoplasm, intranuclear inclusions, multinucleated giant cells, and psammoma bodies). Physical exam was notable for palpable bilateral thyroid nodules. He had no known family history of thyroid disease or malignancy and no personal history of radiation exposure. He also denied neck compressive symptoms or symptoms of hyper-or hypothyroidism. CBC-d and CMP were normal. Thyroid-stimulating hormone was 1.6 mU/L and free thyroxine (FT4) was 1.5 ng/dL, both within the normal range.
Key Technologies for the Development of Mobile Applications

This paper describes a unified architecture for application development. This architecture includes a unified development framework of mobile internet terminal and development environment. The architecture minimizes the technical threshold, improves the degree of reuse, and unifies the differences in operating systems. The architecture supports current and future development of mobile applications put into the market one after another. The supporting of mobile application development can make the technology assets be multiplexed and sustained value-added. Enterprises need to consider user demand, the capacity of technology developers, the time of a product lunching, and development costs when developing a mobile application. Only then can they choose the best development model and programs.
Threshold-Voltage Instability in SiC MOSFETs Due to Near-Interfacial Oxide Traps

There are two basic mechanisms that affect the threshold-voltage (VT) stability: oxide-trap activation and oxide-trap charging. Once additional oxide traps are activated, then they are free to participate in the charge-trapping processes that can, especially for older vintage devices, result in large VT shifts and potential device failure. More recent commercially-available devices show much smaller effects, and minimal trap activation. Given the dramatic improvements, it is now imperative that improved test methods be employed to properly separate out bad devices from good devices.
End-to-side and end-to-end vascular anastomoses with a carbon dioxide laser

This study was designed to compare anastomoses performed with a carbon dioxide laser and conventional anastomoses performed with 7-0 polypropylene suture. In each of 80 rabbits, the divided left carotid artery was anastomosed by a continuous suture technique and the right carotid was anastomosed with a carbon dioxide laser. In each of 40 additional rabbits, both end-to-end and end-to-side laser anastomoses were performed on the same carotid artery. The laser technique involved the placement of three stay sutures (end-to-end technique) or four stay sutures (end-to-side technique) of 7-0 polypropylene and an everting laser seal at a power level of 65 mW. The 1-year overall patency rate was 98 % (78/80) in laser anastomoses, 79% (63/80) in suture anastomoses, and 95% (38/40) in combined end-to-end and end-to-side laser anastomoses. Microscopic findings in laser anastomoses demonstrated degeneration of collagen and protein in the adventitia and media, but much less intimal injury than in suture anastomoses, with reendothelialization beginning earlier (within 7 days after anastomosis as compared with 2 to 4 weeks). The tissue tensile strength at 1 hour was less in laser anastomoses than in suture anastomoses, but the laser anastomoses still withstood an intraluminal pressure load of 380 mm Hg. Laser anastomosis improved the microscopic and histologic appearance of the intimal layer, allowing for rapid early reendothelialization and resulting in excellent patency rates.
Spectrally confined waveforms for solid-state transmit modules

Navy Radar operations are being curtailed in many littoral environments. This is due to two factors: the encroachment of telecommunication systems into the Navy radar bands and inband interference from other radars. The spectral widths of most pulsed radars are significantly wider than necessary with the present modulation schemes. Most radars utilize some form of constant-envelope pulse with phase or frequency modulation. This causes the spectrum to broaden several times the information bandwidth. If both the amplitude and phase of the transmitted signal are allowed to change, a significantly narrower bandwidth can be achieved. In this paper a method to create waveforms with instantaneous bandwidths of 20 MHz confined within −100 dB from sampled waveforms are presented. The kernel used as the interpolation function of a finite sampled time sequence is critical to the generation of a continuous time-domain signal that decays rapidly enough such that the leading and trailing tails are insignificant. This is important so that the radar is not transmitting a small amount of power for a long time which will significantly decrease the efficiency of the transmitter, thereby consuming a large amount of prime power. Although the autocorrelation function of the continuous narrowed waveform may be the same as the discrete autocorrelation function, some differences associated with the kernel used to create the waveform arise.
Deficits in cognitive flexibility induced by chronic unpredictable stress are associated with impaired glutamate neurotransmission in the rat medial prefrontal cortex

Deficits in cognitive flexibility, the ability to modify behavior in response to changes in the environment, contribute to the onset and maintenance of stress-related neuropsychiatric illnesses, such as depression. Cognitive flexibility depends on medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) function, and in depressed patients, cognitive inflexibility is associated with hypoactivity and decreased glutamate receptor expression in the mPFC. Rats exposed to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) exhibit compromised mPFC function on the extradimensional (ED) set-shifting task of the attentional set-shifting test. Moreover, CUS-induced ED deficits are associated with dendritic atrophy and decreased glutamate receptor expression in the mPFC. This evidence suggests that impaired glutamate signaling may underlie stress-induced deficits in cognitive flexibility. To test this hypothesis, we first demonstrated that blocking NMDA or AMPA receptors in the mPFC during ED replicated CUS-induced deficits in naive rats. Secondly, we found that expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc) mRNA, a marker of behaviorally induced glutamate-mediated plasticity, was increased in the mPFC following ED. We then showed that CUS compromised excitatory afferent activation of the mPFC following pharmacological stimulation of the mediodorsal thalamus (MDT), indicated by a reduced induction of c-fos expression. Subsequently, in vivo recordings of evoked potentials in the mPFC indicated that CUS impaired afferent activation of the mPFC evoked by MDT stimulation, but not the ventral hippocampus. Lastly, glutamate microdialysis showed that CUS attenuated the acute stress-evoked increase in extracellular glutamate in the mPFC. Together, these results demonstrate that CUS-induced ED deficits are associated with compromised glutamate neurotransmission in the mPFC.
Recent analytical applications of magnetic nanoparticles

Analytical chemistry has experienced, as well as other areas of science, a big change due to the needs and opportunities provided by analytical nanoscience and nanotechnology. Now, nanotechnology is increasingly proving to be a powerful ally of analytical chemistry to achieve its objectives, and to simplify analytical processes. Moreover, the information needs arising from the growing nanotechnological activity are opening an exciting new field of action for analytical chemists. Magnetic nanoparticles have been used in various fields owing to their unique properties including large specific surface area and simple separation with magnetic fields. For Analytical applications, they have been used mainly for sample preparation techniques (magnetic solid phase extraction with different advanced functional groups (layered double hydroxide, β-cyclodextrin, carbon nanotube, graphen, polymer, octadecylsilane) and automation of it, microextraction techniques) enantioseparation and chemosensors. This review summarizes the basic principles and achievements of magnetic nanoparticles in sample preparation techniques, enantioseparation and chemosensors. Also, some selected articles recently published (2010-2016) have been reviewed and discussed.
The Relative Influence of Economic and Relational Direct Marketing Communications on Buying Behavior in Business-to-Business Markets

AbstractBusiness-to-business firms spend significant resources in direct marketing to manage close relationships with their customers. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of how the effectiveness of direct marketing communications varies by value propositions. Typically, direct marketing efforts are geared toward explicitly featuring economic or relational values. To implement an effective communication strategy catering to customers’ preferences, firms should understand how customers consistently evaluate these organizational marketing communications, which ultimately affect their buying behaviors. Therefore, the authors analyze marketing messages and employ content analysis to capture the two distinct types of direct marketing communications. Using data from a Fortune 500 business-to-business service firm and a robust econometric model, they find that the (1) effects of economic and relational marketing communication on customer purchase behaviors interplay and vary over time, (2) latent stock ...
Leukemic Transformation in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Literature Review on Risk, Characteristics, and Outcome

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) operationally include essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and prefibrotic PMF. All 4 MPN variants might progress into blast-phase disease (MPN-BP). For essential thrombocythemia, reported risk factors for leukemic transformation include advanced age, extreme thrombocytosis, anemia, leukocytosis, and sequence variants/mutations involving TP53 and EZH2 (for expansion of gene symbols, see www.genenames.org); for polycythemia vera, advanced age, leukocytosis, abnormal karyotype, mutations involving SRSF2 and IDH2, and treatment with pipobroman, chlorambucil, or P32; and for PMF, increased blast percentage, thrombocytopenia, abnormal karyotype, triple-negative driver mutational status, and sequence variants/mutations involving SRSF2, RUNX1, CEBPA, and SH2B3. The reported median survival figures for MPN-BP range from 1.5 to 2.5 months in patients treated with supportive care only, from 2.5 to 10 months in those receiving hypomethylating agents or low-dose chemotherapy, and from 3.9 to 9.4 months in those receiving induction chemotherapy. Three-year survival after allogeneic stem cell transplant was reported in 16% to 33% of patients. These observations validate the extremely poor prognosis associated with MPN-BP and the lack of effective drug therapy and highlight the need for urgent assessment of therapeutic values of investigational agents. In the meantime, affected patients might be best served with aggressive chemotherapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplant after adequate blast clearance.
The Influence of a Lake-to-Lake Connection from Lake Huron on the Lake-Effect Snowfall in the Vicinity of Lake Ontario

AbstractLake-effect storms (LES) produce substantial snowfall in the vicinity of the downwind shores of the Great Lakes. These storms may take many forms; one type of LES event, lake to lake (L2L),...
Evidence of a plume on Europa from Galileo magnetic and plasma wave signatures

The icy surface of Jupiter’s moon, Europa, is thought to lie on top of a global ocean1–4. Signatures in some Hubble Space Telescope images have been associated with putative water plumes rising above Europa’s surface5,6, providing support for the ocean theory. However, all telescopic detections reported were made at the limit of sensitivity of the data5–7, thereby calling for a search for plume signatures in in-situ measurements. Here, we report in-situ evidence of a plume on Europa from the magnetic field and plasma wave observations acquired on Galileo’s closest encounter with the moon. During this flyby, which dropped below 400 km altitude, the magnetometer 8 recorded an approximately 1,000-kilometre-scale field rotation and a decrease of over 200 nT in field magnitude, and the Plasma Wave Spectrometer 9 registered intense localized wave emissions indicative of a brief but substantial increase in plasma density. We show that the location, duration and variations of the magnetic field and plasma wave measurements are consistent with the interaction of Jupiter’s corotating plasma with Europa if a plume with characteristics inferred from Hubble images were erupting from the region of Europa’s thermal anomalies. These results provide strong independent evidence of the presence of plumes at Europa.
Chromatin That Guides Dosage Compensation Is Modulated by the siRNA Pathway in Drosophila melanogaster

Many heterogametic organisms adjust sex chromosome expression to accommodate differences in gene dosage. This requires selective recruitment of regulatory factors to the modulated chromosome. How these factors are localized to a chromosome with requisite accuracy is poorly understood. Drosophila melanogaster males increase expression from their single X chromosome. Identification of this chromosome involves cooperation between different classes of X-identity elements. The chromatin entry sites (CES) recruit a chromatin-modifying complex that spreads into nearby genes and increases expression. In addition, a family of satellite repeats that is enriched on the X chromosome, the 1.688X repeats, promotes recruitment of the complex to nearby genes. The 1.688X repeats and CES are dissimilar, and appear to operate through different mechanisms. Interestingly, the siRNA pathway and siRNA from a 1.688X repeat also promote X recognition. We postulate that siRNA-dependent modification of 1.688X chromatin contributes to recognition of nearby genes. In accord with this, we found enrichment of the siRNA effector Argonaute2 (Ago2) at some 1.688X repeats. Mutations in several proteins that physically interact with Ago2, including the histone methyltransferase Su(var)3-9, enhance the lethality of males with defective X recognition. Su(var)3-9 deposits H3K9me2 on some 1.688X repeats, and this mark is disrupted upon ectopic expression of 1.688X siRNA. Furthermore, integration of 1.688X DNA on an autosome induces local H3K9me2 deposition, but enhances expression of nearby genes in a siRNA-dependent manner. Our findings are consistent with a model in which siRNA-directed modification of 1.688X chromatin contributes to recognition of the male X chromosome for dosage compensation.
Area beam equalization: optimization and performance of an automated prototype system for chest radiography.

Rationale and objectives To evaluate the feasibility and performance of an x-ray beam equalization system for chest radiography using anthropomorphic phantoms. Materials and methods Area beam equalization involves the process of the initial unequalized image acquisition, attenuator thickness calculation, mask generation using a 16 × 16 piston array, and final equalized image acquisition. Chest radiographs of three different anthropomorphic phantoms were acquired with no beam equalization and equalization levels of 4.8, 11.3, and 21. Six radiologists evaluated the images by scoring them from 1–5 using 13 different criteria. The dose was calculated using the known attenuator material thickness and the mAs of the x-ray tube. Results The visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions of the chest radiographs was shown to be significantly (P <.01) improved after beam equalization. An equalization level of 4.8 provided most of the improvements with moderate increases in patient dose and tube loading. Higher levels of beam equalization did not show much improvement in the visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions. Conclusion A moderate level of x-ray beam equalization in chest radiography is superior to both conventional radiographs and radiographs with high levels of beam equalization. X-ray beam equalization can significantly improve the visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions while maintaining good image quality in the lung region.
Complications of transvaginal apical repairs: Evaluation and management

The transvaginal approach to the vaginal apex is commonly performed for pelvic organ prolapse, and offers a minimally invasive alternative to the transabdominal route. Nonetheless, as with any major surgical procedure, there are complications specific to these approaches. Complications common to all procedures, including urinary tract infection, wound infection, venous thrombosis, and neuropraxias, are discussed in Chap. 2. We will focus on major complications related to transvaginal approaches to apical prolapse repair including ureteral or bowel injury, hemorrhage, and peripheral nerve injury.
Drill a Gas Well, Bring a Soldier Home? US Domestic Drilling and Troop Deployment

Advocates for increasing domestic drilling for natural gas, particularly hydraulic fracturing of shale formations, have rallied behind the slogan “Drill a gas well, bring a soldier home,” suggesting an association between domestic drilling and reduced troop deployments abroad. But is there any empirical evidence for a correlation? I investigate this question using 60 years of data on US troop movements and domestic gas drilling and a vector autoregression approach to account for factors that affect both. Surprisingly, results of basic specifications not only support the idea of a correlation between drilling and troop withdrawal, but cannot reject that there is a one to one negative correlation. That is, drilling one well may in fact be correlated with one soldier coming home. Results are not robust or conclusive, although there is enough suggestive evidence to warrant further research.
Mini-columns and ghost columns in Columbia River lava

Abstract The master joints bounding the columns that make up the basal colonnade of large lava flows of the Columbia Plateau are, in places, flanked by sub-horizontal mini-columns that have grown normal to the master joints. The secondary mini-columns grow into the main columns and are clearly younger than them. They are small adjacent to the master joint, but merge together and thicken away from the fracture toward the master column interior. Commonly the mini-columns are one-half meter in length and 2–12 cm in diameter. Where the horizontal mini-columns grow longer they intersect toward the middle of the master joints. This plexus of joints changes the aspect of the original master columns making them almost unrecognizable producing ghost columns. The basalt flow may acquire an entablature-like appearance where the ghost column outlines disappear due to extensive secondary fracturing. At the time that the hot flow center had cooled sufficiently below the brittle-plastic transformation, the primary vertical basal colonnade joints growing up from the bottom connected with those in the upper colonnade growing down. This allowed steam trapped beneath the flow to be released to the surface and ushered in a change from a conduction-cooling regime to a convection-cooling regime. The steam beneath the flow was formed and sustained by heat from the lava that boiled the groundwater in the underlying substrate. Large volumes of the rising steam was on average much cooler than the hot fractures in the flow interior through which it passed, causing contraction of the master column walls to produce the secondary horizontal mini-columns. The presence of mini-columns indicates emplacement of lava over moist ground and are absent where the lavas advanced across arid areas or flowed over recently-erupted lava. The extreme shattering that forms ghost columns by late stage convective cooling can produce a flow layer of considerable thickness, a layer that can later serve as an aquifer with high porosity and permeability.
A Simple Protocol to Stratify Pulmonary Risk Reduces Complications After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Pulmonary complications after total joint arthroplasty are a burden to patients and the healthcare system. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a pulmonary screening questionnaire and intervention protocol developed at our institution to prevent pulmonary complications. Methods Between 2010 and 2015, 7658 consecutive total joint arthroplasty patients at our institution were reviewed. Based on our pre-operative pulmonary risk assessment tool, 1625 patients were flagged as high pulmonary risk. Patients were determined to be high risk if they were a current or former heavy smoker with an abnormal spirometry, had a positive obstructive sleep apnea screening, required continuous positive airway pressure/bi-level positive airway pressure use, had a history of significant pulmonary disease, had an oxygen saturation 40. A standardized monitoring protocol and interventions including smoking cessation, treatment and optimization of primary pulmonary conditions, peri-operative inhaler use, spinal anesthesia, aspiration precautions, elevated head of bed >20° resting and >45° while eating, maintaining oxygen saturation ≥92%, early use of incentive spirometer, avoidance of narcotics and early respiratory therapy consult were initiated for all high risk patients. Results Only 7 of 7658 (0.091%) patients suffered pulmonary complications after initiating our intervention protocol. These included 3 aspiration pneumonias, 1 asthma exacerbation, 1 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, 1 continuous positive airway pressure intolerance in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea, and 1 requirement of bi-level positive airway pressure. The pulmonary risk questionnaire accurately identified all patients who had pulmonary complications. The overall pulmonary complication rate at our institution decreased from 5.7% to 0.09% after implementing our screening questionnaire and intervention protocol (P Conclusion Our results demonstrate a more than 63-fold reduction in pulmonary complications at our institution. Our screening questionnaire and intervention protocol is an effective way of identifying and preventing pulmonary complications.
Neuropsychological correlates of subjective fatigue in non-demented older adults and the moderating effect of physical activity

ABSTRACTThis study examined the association between self-reported fatigue and neuropsychological performance in 167 middle-aged and older (age range: 50–91 years) adults without dementia. Participa...
Russian hybrid warfare: resurgence and politicisation

Ofer Fridman has produced a timely study of a topic that perplexes policy makers and military officials alike. His book titled Russian Hybrid Warfare: Resurgence and Politicisation provides the con...
A Turn to Violence: The Escalation of Nonviolent Movements:

Nonviolent resistance can be a powerful tool for ordinary civilians to transform their governments; however, not all nonviolent movements end in success and many ultimately escalate into violent co...
A Secreted Ig-Domain Protein Required in Both Astrocytes and Neurons for Regulation of Drosophila Night Sleep

Summary Endogenous rhythmic behaviors are evolutionarily conserved and essential for life. In mammalian and invertebrate models, well-characterized neuronal circuits and evolutionarily conserved mechanisms regulate circadian behavior and sleep [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. In Drosophila, neuronal populations located in multiple brain regions mediate arousal, sleep drive, and homeostasis (reviewed in [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]). Similar to mammals [ 8 ], there is also evidence that fly glial cells modulate the neuronal circuits controlling rhythmic behaviors, including sleep [ 1 ]. Here, we describe a novel gene (CG14141; aka Nkt) that is required for normal sleep. NKT is a 162-amino-acid protein with a single IgC2 immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and a high-quality signal peptide [ 9 ], and we show evidence that it is secreted, similar to its C. elegans ortholog (OIG-4) [ 10 ]. We demonstrate that Nkt-null flies or those with selective knockdown in either neurons or glia have decreased and fragmented night sleep, indicative of a non-redundant requirement in both cell types. We show that Nkt is required in fly astrocytes and in a specific set of wake-promoting neurons—the mushroom body (MB) α’β’ cells that link sleep to memory consolidation [ 11 ]. Importantly, Nkt gene expression is required in the adult nervous system for normal sleep, consistent with a physiological rather than developmental function for the Ig-domain protein.
Norwegian Scabies management after prolonged disease course: A case report.

Abstract Introduction Scabies is a well – known, commonly recognized, and frequently diagnosed pathology especially in children, close quarters, living facilities, and immunocompromised patients. An accelerated severe infestation of traditional scabies with limited treatment options is known as the rare entity of Norwegian or Crusted Scabies. Case presentation We present the history, clinical manifestations, medical treatments and surgical interventions of a patient with Norwegian Scabies of his hands, which rendered them nonfunctional prior to intervention. The patient was initially misdiagnosed and underwent inappropriate treatments for several years prior to our assessment, and ultimately required surgical intervention that was therapeutic. Discussion Norwegian, or Crusted, Scabies is a severe infestation of S. scabiei in which the mite load is extreme in comparison to traditional scabies. This manifests as scaly plaques that are often misdiagnosed for other hyperkeratotic skin lesions. With this misdiagnosis, improper treatments are often recommended, and can even accelerate the manifestation. Traditional scabies therapies can be effective, however often due significant disease progression due to diagnostic delay, invasive measures, such as surgical debridement like presented here, are the only option. Conclusion The patient presented in this case harbored a rare infection, known as Norwegian Scabies, for several years, with inappropriate medical therapy. Due to his prolonged inadequate treatments, his disease became so pronounced that the recommended medical treatments were no longer adequate, thus he required surgical debridements which ultimately allowed him to regain function in his hands.
Improving physical performance through independent, home-based exercise program prior to cancer-related surgery.

54Background: Surgery in older adults is a physiologically stressful event associated with reduced functional capacity and decreased quality of life. Poor preoperative performance is linked to risk...
Airway management in laryngeal surgery

Airway management and anesthesia for laryngeal surgery poses many challenges. A preoperative endoscopic airway examination and discussion with the otolaryngologist helps in planning the anesthetic management. Although, securing the airway using specialized endotracheal tubes is possible in the majority of cases, the surgeon may occasionally request a “tubeless” field. This can be achieved by ventilating the lungs using jet ventilation or high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) while providing total intravenous anesthesia. Therefore, in addition to the “difficult airway” cart, equipment to provide HFNO and a high-pressure source of oxygen to provide jet ventilation should also be available.
RACE, DEATH OF A SIBLING, AND DEMENTIA RISK AT LATE ADULTHOOD

The death of a family member is a stressful life event that compromises health and well-being. Considerable research has documented the detrimental health effects of parental, child, and spousal death. However, much less is known with regard to the health consequences of sibling death especially in late adulthood. Relationship with sibling is one of longest and intimate social relationships and the death of a sibling can be a devastating life event especially for older adults as they are more vulnerable to adverse effect of stress. As sibling death is more prevalent in late adulthood, it is important to examine whether sibling death increases risks of dementia which has become a public health concern due to its deleterious effects on individuals, families, and societies. Therefore, this study investigates the association between sibling death and dementia incidence in later life by using longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study. Results from discrete-time hazard models show that respondents who experienced the death of a sibling between 1992 and 2000 are more likely to develop dementia during follow-up. This positive association between the death of a sibling and dementia incidence remains unchanged after accounting for respondents’ health status before sibling death and shared family social status during childhood. Further analyses indicate that psychological distress, health behaviors, and health status cannot explain the relationship between sibling death and dementia incidence. In addition, the association of sibling death with dementia incidence is similar for non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks.
New trustee needed for Vetlife

The board of Vetlife is seeking a new trustee. The successful applicant must be a veterinary surgeon, a member of Vetlife, resident in the UK and possess a good working knowledge of the profession. As well as board duties, a trustee’s …
Clinical utility of the Epworth sleepiness scale.

The Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) is a widely used tool which has been validated as a measure of sleepiness. However, the scores within individual patients referred for clinical sleep services vary considerably which may limit the clinical use of the ESS. We sought to determine the test-retest reliability of the ESS if scores were classified as either normal or sleepy. We measured the ESS in patients presenting to our sleep center at a clinical visit and again when a sleep study was done. Demographic and clinical information was extracted from the electronic medical record. Average ESS scores were similar on 2 administrations, mean (SD) of 9.8 (5.4) and 10.2 (6.2). Bland-Altman analysis showed upper and lower limits of agreement of 7.5 and − 6.7, respectively. No demographic or clinical variables were identified which contributed to the intra-individual variability. Of the patients who presented with an initial ESS < 11, 80% had a second ESS < 11. Of the patients who presented with an initial ESS ≥ 11, 89% had a second ESS ≥ 11. Cohen’s kappa for the two administrations of the ESS was 0.67 (95% CI of 0.51–0.83). Using previously published reports, we calculated Cohen’s kappa for polysomnographic determination of the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) with values ranging from 0.26 to 0.69. Individual ESS scores varied considerably within individual patients, but with classification into either normal or sleepy, the test-retest reliability was substantial and in line with other clinical measures including polysomnographic determination of the AHI.
Effects of resveratrol or estradiol on postexercise endothelial function in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women.

The benefits of endurance exercise training on endothelial function are diminished in estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women, but estradiol treatment appears to restore improvements in endothelial...
Examining Corporate Communications of Environmental Responsibility on Corporate Websites: Main Themes, Linguistic Features, and Text Reuse

The present study intends to examine environmental corporate social responsibility (ECSR) disclosure on official corporate websites within and across a collection of companies. Through an automated...
Educational assortative mating and time use in the home.

This study examines the association between individuals' educational assortative mating and time spent on child care and housework. Focus is put on hypogamous couples, or couples in which wives have more education than their husbands. Relative resources and gender revolution frameworks are considered as contexts to explain why hypogamous couples may share their time differently than other couples. A series of ordinary least squares regressions with population and sampling weights are employed using American Time Use Survey data from 2003 to 2018. Three, separate analyses using relative education, gender, and all educational pairings as the independent variables of interest are presented with child care and housework as the dependent variables. The current findings show that men in hypogamous marriages perform about 10 min more of child care per day on average than their peers in hypergamous and homogamous marriages, and that this comes primarily from basic care activities. This accounts for approximately 43% of the difference between men and women in the average amount of time spent on child care. No clear pattern of significance is apparent comparing individuals' time spent on housework by relative education, suggesting that housework and child care have evolved differently in the context of gendered domestic responsibilities. Men in hypogamous marriages are more egalitarian in their sharing of child care. However, this is only true for couples in which men have at least a high school diploma and women are highly educated.
Voices of Korean-American Students.

The purpose of this study was to identify the special needs or concerns of Korean-American students by utilizing a survey questionnaire. Further, this data can be used to assess if any significant subset of these students are educationally at risk and in need of specialized services beyond regular education. A total sample of 207 Korean-American students in selected cities in California participated in the study. The findings suggest that the overwhelming majority of these students are well-adjusted to the way of life at home and school in California, and their self-concept appears to be highly positive. On the other hand, the majority (78%) of these students were concerned about their parents' limited English proficiency. Also, a considerable number (56%) were not happy with their school work, and approximately one third expressed concern regarding learning difficulties and the English language barrier.
Average-Size Erect Penis: Fiction, Fact, and the Need for Counseling

Most men believe that the average length of an erect penis is greater than 6 inches (15.24 cm). This belief is due, in part, to several often-cited studies that relied on self-reported measurements...
Electro-optical stability in gallium magnesium zinc oxide layers for CdTe solar cells

In CdTe solar cells, the emitter electron density, bandgap, and band alignment can be tuned by adjusting alloy composition and stoichiometry in gallium magnesium zinc oxide (GMZO) layers, thereby allowing for critical front interface engineering. For example, computational modeling indicates efficiency can change from 7% to 25% by adjusting these buffer properties even with fixed CdSeTe and CdTe material properties. However, the GMZO as-deposited electro-optical properties can shift during subsequent CdTe deposition, CdCl 2 annealing, and solar cell operation. Here, we examine these changes by sputtering GMZO films on glass, and measuring the electron density before and after post-deposition treatments over a range of temperatures and different ambients. We then compare GMZO to SnO 2 and MZO. The addition of Ga to MgZnO is found to have profound effects on both the electron density and electro-optical stability that should be advantageous for CdTe solar cells.
Still Small: Contemplation in action

On a careful path, silence (especially collectively held) may give rise to language rooted in trust. And then the language that arises from a shared sense of mystery, directed through a covenant free of predetermined aim, recommends a program of action that relies on care and wakeful interdependence. There is a thread to follow from contemplation through creativity and into compassion. Patience in silence yields an excess that finds language; language inscribes mutuality; a language arising from an ethical, generous, and mutual silence promotes an ethic of hospitality. A model for this practice is found in Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, which adapts to a generative arts practice focused on social change. The art practice here is playwriting, as a case. The pattern of ideas: structures fundamental to the Exercises; a rationale for translating the Exercises to the art-making process; the natural coherence of volunteered, shared silence (as on a retreat, or in an intentional community) and creative output directed to solidarity and social healing.
Structural components and architectures of RNA exosomes

A large body of structural work conducted over the past ten years has elucidated mechanistic details related to 3' to 5' processing and decay of RNA substrates by the RNA exosome. This chapter will focus on the structural organization of eukaryotic exosomes and their evolutionary cousins in bacteria and archaea with an emphasis on mechanistic details related to substrate recognition and to 3' to 5' phosphorolytic exoribonucleolytic activities of bacterial and archaeal exosomes as well as the hydrolytic exoribonucleolytic and endoribonucleolytic activities of eukaryotic exosomes. These points will be addressed in large part through presentation of crystal structures of phosphorolytic enzymes such as bacterial RNase PH, PNPase and archaeal exosomes and crystal structures of the eukaryotic exosome and exosome sub-complexes in addition to standalone structures of proteins that catalyze activities associated with the eukaryotic RNA exosome, namely Rrp44, Rrp6 and their bacterial counterparts.