cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advanced schistosomiasis prevalence in Jingmen City from 2004 to 2013

OBJECTIVE To understand the advanced schistosomiasis prevalence trend in Jingmen City, so as to provide the evidence for improving the disease prevention and control. METHODS The changes of advanced schistosomiasis prevalence were investigated and the distribution characteristics of the patients were analyzed in Jingmen City from 2004 to 2013. RESULTS In recent 10 years, the incidence of advanced schistosomiasis dropped from 0.014/thousand to 0.009/thousand, and the regional distribution of the patients did not change. The number of male patients was still more than that of female patients, but more old aging patients were found. The ascetic type and splenomegaly type of advanced schistosomiasis patients were the most. CONCLUSION In the next few years, the advanced schistosomiasis patients Jingmen City will reduce quickly, and concentrate on the aging group and ascetic type.
Dermatographic fixed-drug eruption: another cause of pseudo-Darier's sign.

Abstract A 7-year-old boy from El Salvador presented with several well-demarcated 3- to 4-cm round to oval, grey-brown patches on his shoulder and trunk (Figure a) that appeared simultaneously about 1 year previously. The lesions were red initially and thought by the patient's mother and primary care physicians to be bruises, but a hematologist's evaluation was unremarkable. The erythema soon subsided, leaving persistent light-brown spots on the torso. The patient was otherwise asymptomatic.
Sodium, Potassium, and Metabolic Studies of Glial, Liver, and Kidney Nuclei Under Anoxic-Ischemic Conditions

Glial, liver, and kidney nuclei were studied under anoxic-ischemic conditions. It was found that glial nuclei were significantly depleted of sodium and potassium as early as 15 seconds after the insult, whereas liver and kidney nuclei were not. There was a concomitant significant drop in high-energy substrates (ATP, P-creatine, glucose) in both glial and brain homogenate, whereas these substrates remained relatively constant in kidney and began to drop only at the four-minute time point in liver. These unique observations in glial nuclei may have important implications in the glial swelling that is seen in ischemic states.
USDA-ARS Colorado maize water productivity data set

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service conducted a water productivity field trial for irrigated maize in northeastern Colorado in 2008 through 2011. The data set, which is available online from the USDA National Agricultural Library data repository at https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/usda-ars-colorado-maize-water-productivity-dataset-2008-2011 , includes measurements of irrigation, precipitation, soil water storage, and plant growth; daily estimates of crop evapotranspiration; and seasonal measurement of crop water use and crop yield. Soil parameters and hourly and daily weather data are also provided. This paper describes the data set and the methodology used to collect the data. The data set can be useful to evaluate and improve maize crop models.
Diversity of 16S rDNA and naphthalene dioxygenase genes from coal-tar-waste-contaminated aquifer waters.

Microbial diversity in four wells along a groundwater flowpath in a coal-tar-waste-contaminated aquifer was examined using RFLP analysis of both 16S rDNA and naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO) genes. Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) relied upon eubacteria-specific primers to generate four clone libraries. From each library, 100 clones were randomly picked for analysis. Sixty percent of 400 clones contained unique ARDRA patterns. Diversity indices calculated for each community were high (Shannon–Weaver, H? = 3.53 to 3.69). Clones representing ARDRA patterns found in the highest abundance were sequenced (31 total). Sequences related to aerobic bacteria (e.g., Nitrospira, Methylomonas, and Gallionella) predominated among those retrieved from the uncontaminated area of the site, whereas sequences related to facultatively aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (e.g. Azoarcus, Syntrophus, and Desulfotomaculum) predominated among those retrieved from contaminated areas of the site. Using NDO-specific primers and low-stringency PCR conditions, variability in RFLP patterns was only detected in community-derived DNA (3 of 4 wells) and not in 5 newly isolated naphthalene-degrading pure cultures. The ARDRA patterns of the pure culture isolates were not found in the clone libraries. Polymorphisms in community 16S rDNA and NDO genes found in well-water microorganisms reflected distinctive geochemical conditions across the site. Sequences related to sulfate-reducing bacteria were found in groundwater that contained sulfide, while sequences related to Gallionella, Syntrophus, and nitrate-reducing aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were found in groundwater that contained ferrous iron, methane, and naphthalene, respectively.
Normolipidemic Dyslipoproteinemia in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Evidence has been accumulated in the past years that there is a significant relationship between the concentration of circulating plasma cholesterol and the development of atherosclerosis. The results of three large prospective studies namely, the Framingham Heart Study (1), the Pooling Project (2), and the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial (3), show that the relationship between plasma cholesterol and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is continuous and the risk of premature atherosclerosis rise dramatically with plasma cholesterol concentration above 250 mg/dl. Furthermore the recently concluded Lipid Research Clinic Primary Intervention Trial (4), The Helsinki Heart Study (5) and the Cholesterol-Lowering Atherosclerosis Study (6), all show benefit in terms of mortality by myocardial infarction resulting from reduction with hypolipidemic agents of the plasma concentration of cholesterol.
Lessons From State-Level and National-Level Policy Conflicts Over U.S. Shale Development

Sustainable governance of the environment requires that people and decision makers are capable of learning and adapting to new and emerging environmental issues. Yet our ability to learn and adapt ...
Human-Agent Collaboration: Can an Agent be a Partner?

Human-Agent Interaction has been much studied and discussed in the last two decades. We have two starting points for this panel. First we observe that interaction is not the same as collaboration. Collaboration involves mutual goal understanding, preemptive task co-management and shared progress tracking. Second, that much of the on-going discourse around human-agent interaction implies that agents can be trusted, collaborative partners. Our position is that while virtual and embodied agents have the potential to be work partners, for this goal to be achieved we need to better understand what partnership in collaboration involves. In this panel we ask: Can this potential for trusted collaboration be realized? If so, what will it take? This panel will bring together HCI experts who work on collaboration, virtual agent design and human-robot-interaction. Panelists will engage the audience through discussion of their shared and diverging visions, and through suggestions for opportunities and challenges for the future of human-agent collaboration.
Total Particle Number Emissions from Modern Diesel, Natural Gas, and Hybrid Heavy-Duty Vehicles During On-Road Operation.

Particle emissions from heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) have significant environmental and public health impacts. This study measured total particle number emission factors (PNEFs) from six newly certified HDVs powered by diesel and compressed natural gas totaling over 6800 miles of on-road operation in California. Distance-, fuel- and work-based PNEFs were calculated for each vehicle. Distance-based PNEFs of vehicles equipped with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) diesel particulate filters (DPFs) in this study have decreased by 355–3200 times compared to a previous retrofit DPF dynamometer study. Fuel-based PNEFs were consistent with previous studies measuring plume exhaust in the ambient air. Meanwhile, on-road PNEF shows route and technology dependence. For vehicles with OEM DPFs and Selective Catalytic Reduction Systems, PNEFs under highway driving (i.e., 3.34 × 1012 to 2.29 × 1013 particles/mile) were larger than those measured on urban and drayage routes (i.e., 5.06 × 1011 to 1.31 × 1013 particles/m...
Postoperative Outcomes after Single-port Laparoscopic Removal of Adnexal Masses in Patients Referred to Gynecologic Oncology at a Large Academic Center.

Abstract Study Objective To report surgical and pathologic outcomes after single-port laparoscopy (SPL) for adnexal masses in patients referred to a gynecologic oncology practice at a single academic institution. Design A retrospective analysis (Canadian Task Force Classification II.2). Setting A single academic institution with multiple hospital centers. Patients Women who underwent at least 1 single-port laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of an adnexal mass from 2009 to 2015 after referral to a gynecologic oncology practice. Intervention Data were collected on the surgical procedure, patient demographic variables, 30-day surgical outcomes, and hernia development. Measurements and Main Results Three hundred twenty-five surgeries were performed in 322 patients with a median follow-up of 42.7 months. The median age was 54.5 years, and the median body mass index was 28.1 kg/m 2 . All patients underwent unilateral or bilateral salpingectomy or oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy (26.5%). The median operative time was 90.0 minutes. The median mass dimension was 6.4 cm with 17.9% (n = 60) greater than 10 cm. Masses were categorized as simple (11.4%) and complex (69.5%). Although the majority (87.4%) of masses were benign, 7.4% were malignant, and 5.2% were borderline. Benign masses were physiologic (16.6%), serous cystadenomas (19.1%), mucinous cystadenomas (6.8%), endometriomas (12.3%), myomas (12.3%), and mature teratomas (9.2%). In malignant cases (7.4%), serous carcinoma was the most frequent histology (58.3%). The rate of adverse outcomes within 30 days, including reoperation (0.0%), intraoperative injury (1.5%), venous thromboembolism (0.3%), and transfusion (0.6%), was low. The development of incisional cellulitis was 4.6%. The rate of incisional hernia was 4.0%, with a median occurrence of 18.3 months. Diabetes mellitus (p = .03) and obesity (p = .04) were significant predictors for a hernia, but mass complexity (p = .28), American Society of Anesthesiologists class (p = .83), and smoking (p = .82) were not. Conclusion In patients undergoing SPL for the removal of adnexal masses in a gynecologic oncology practice, the rate of benign disease is high. SPL removal of adnexal masses is feasible and safe with favorable surgical outcomes, rare short-term adverse outcomes, and a low incisional hernia rate.
SOM-TC: Self-Organizing Map for Hierarchical Trajectory Clustering

Trajectory clustering techniques help discover interesting insights from moving object data, including common routes for people and vehicles, anomalous sub-trajectories, etc. Existing trajectory clustering techniques fail to take in to account the uncertainty present in location data. In this paper, we investigate the problem of clustering trajectory data and propose a novel algorithm for clustering similar full and sub-trajectories together while modeling uncertainty in this data. We describe the necessary pre-processing techniques for clustering trajectory data, namely techniques to discretize raw location data using Possible World semantics to capture the inherent uncertainty in location data, and to segment full trajectories in to meaningful sub-trajectories. As a baseline, we extend the well known K-means algorithm to cluster trajectory data. We then describe and evaluate a new trajectory clustering algorithm, SOM-TC (Self-Organizing Map Based Trajectory Clustering), that is inspired from the self-organizing map technique and is at least 4x faster than the baseline K-means and current density based clustering approaches.
Brain in the Loop Learning Using Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy

The role of practice is crucial in the skill acquisition process and for assessments of learning. In this study, we used a portable neuroimaging technique, functional near infrared (fNIR) spectroscopy for monitoring prefrontal cortex activation during learning of spatial navigation tasks throughout 11 days of training and testing. Two different tasks orders, blocked and random, were used to test the effect of the practice schedule on the acquisition and transfer of 3D computer mazes. Results indicated variable decreases in the hemodynamic response during the initial days of practice. Although there were no differences in mean oxygenation for the practice orders across acquisition the random practice order used less oxygenation than the blocked order for the more difficult tasks in the transfer phase Use of brain activation and behavioral measures provides can provide a more accurate depiction of the learning process. Since fNIR systems are safe, portable and record brain activation in ecologically valid settings, fNIR can contribute to future learning settings for assessment and personalization of the training regimen.
Generating Multivariate Ordinal Data via Entropy Principles

When conducting robustness research where the focus of attention is on the impact of non-normality, the marginal skewness and kurtosis are often used to set the degree of non-normality. Monte Carlo methods are commonly applied to conduct this type of research by simulating data from distributions with skewness and kurtosis constrained to pre-specified values. Although several procedures have been proposed to simulate data from distributions with these constraints, no corresponding procedures have been applied for discrete distributions. In this paper, we present two procedures based on the principles of maximum entropy and minimum cross-entropy to estimate the multivariate observed ordinal distributions with constraints on skewness and kurtosis. For these procedures, the correlation matrix of the observed variables is not specified but depends on the relationships between the latent response variables. With the estimated distributions, researchers can study robustness not only focusing on the levels of non-normality but also on the variations in the distribution shapes. A simulation study demonstrates that these procedures yield excellent agreement between specified parameters and those of estimated distributions. A robustness study concerning the effect of distribution shape in the context of confirmatory factor analysis shows that shape can affect the robust $$\chi ^2$$ and robust fit indices, especially when the sample size is small, the data are severely non-normal, and the fitted model is complex.
Endoscopic treatment of colorectal polyps and early cancer.

To analyze the efficacy and outcome of colonoscopic resection for colorectal neoplastic lesions, we retrospectively reviewed 338 colorectal lesions from 232 patients regarding the clinical profiles, colonoscopic findings, histological findings, complications, and outcome. Morphologically, these lesions were classified into three categories: pedunculated (n = 140), sessile (n = 176); and flat (n = 22). Histological findings of lesions included adenoma (n = 248), carcinoma in situ (n = 17), submucosal carcinoma (n = 2), hyperplastic polyp (n = 57), and inflammatory polyp (n = 14). Neoplastic lesions are generally larger than nonneoplastic lesions (χ2 test, P < 0.05). The incidence of carcinoma was 5.6% of 338 resected lesions. The rate of cancer or high-grade dysplasia in flat polyps was greater than in pedunculated and sessile polyps (13.6 vs 4.54 vs 5.71%; P < 0.05). There were no perforations or deaths after colonoscopic treatment, and only mild bleeding occured in two patients. To date, 19 patients with early colorectal cancer were treated successfully by endoscopy with no recurrence or metastasis. To reduce the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer, colonoscopic resection is a simple and safe procedure for removing neoplastic lesions. Detailed histological examinations are essential to decide the indications of surgery.
Evaluation of folate conjugate uptake and transport by the choroid plexus of mice.

Purpose. Because the choroid plexus (CP) is enriched in cell surface folate receptors, an investigation was initiated to evaluate whether folate receptor-mediated transcytosis might be exploited to deliver folate conjugates into the brain. Methods. Balb/c mice were injected with radioactive and fluorescent conjugates of folate to measure and image their uptake by the CP. Results. Retention of a radioactive folate conjugate, folate-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-111In, into the brain of balb/c mice was observed, although repeated injections or prolonged release via an osmotic pump of the compound did not result in increased brain uptake. Uptake of an 125I-labeled anti-folate receptor antibody into the brain was very low, and no competition was observed with unlabeled antibody. Imaging of brain thin-sections and whole brain tissue from a mouse injected with folate-fluorescein revealed strong fluorescence in the CP, but virtually no where else in the brain. Conclusions. Both fluorescence and radioimaging results demonstrate specific uptake of small molecular weight folate conjugates into CP cells of the murine brain, but no significant transport of the molecules across the CSF. Furthermore, no uptake of larger folate-linked proteins by choroid plexus cells is observed, suggesting folate conjugate size may strongly influence access to CP folate receptors.
Announcement of 2019 Keystone Symposia Conference: "Microbiome: Chemical Mechanisms and Biological Consequences".

The Keystone Symposia will be hosting a conference organized by Emily Balskus, Peter Turnbaugh, and Dennis Wolan entitled "Microbiome: Chemical Mechanisms and Biological Consequences" 10 to 14 March 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Our goal for this meeting is to focus attention on the intersection of chemistry and biology by bringing together scientists in these two disciplines, while also including talks about other hosts, environmental microbiomes, and multidisciplinary research platforms. The focus of this conference is to emphasize our community's need to continue adopting other scientific disciplines to ultimately generate a broad understanding of microbiomes and the cross talk microbes have with their environment. We are inviting speakers from across the globe that interrogate fundamental chemical processes of microbiomes, including small-molecule and xenobiotic metabolism, natural product synthesis, and the many microbial enzymes responsible for the production of these biologically relevant metabolites. The ability to link the chemical foundations of microbes with biological outcomes would provide tremendous contributions to this emerging field of study.
Combination immunotherapy as a non-chemotherapy alternative for refractory or recurrent CNS lymphoma

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an extemely rare, CD20+ non-germinal center B cell lymphoma (diffuse large cell type) in a bed of T-cell rich tumor microenvironment. The prognost...
Deception Processing by Third-Party Observers: The Role of Speaker Intent.

Deception studies typically focus on the deceiver (or the deceived), with lie detection of paramount concern. Consequently, little attention has been paid to the experience of third-party observers...
World Literature and the Encounter with the Other: A Means or a Menace?

William Franke’s approach to world literature takes its orientation from what is unsayable in any tradition whatsoever. The unsayable is where culture borders on the transcendent dimension of the religious, which secularized, globalized society excludes at its peril. Incommensurabilities enable us, paradoxically, to find our common measure. The incommensurable is the possession of none in particular, but rather the condition of possibility of all. It consists minimally in our all being conditioned by one another, by each other's claim on each. Sensitivity to the unsayable or the “apophatic” is most necessary today in order to make world literature a genuine source of mutual self-discovery rather than a steamroller that turns everything into globalized English by the flattening effect of translation. Instead, analogously to Walter Benjamin’s “pure language,” literature emerges as transhistorical and transgeographical through multidirectional translation.
Chronic steroid use as an independent risk factor for perioperative complications.

Abstract Background Corticosteroid use continues to rise nationally. Studies have evaluated the impact of chronic steroid use on surgical outcomes in smaller populations. This study investigated the impact of chronic steroid use on perioperative surgical outcomes in a surgical cohort of more than 5 million surgical patients, using a statistically rigorous methodology. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Database was queried 2008–2016 to evaluate chronic steroid use. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared, using χ2 and t test analysis, and then repeated after propensity score matching. Finally, a double-adjustment logistic regression was utilized, yielding odds ratios to assess the effect of chronic steroids on perioperative outcomes within the matched population. Results Between 2008 and 2016, a total of 5,244,588 patients met inclusion criteria, of whom 181,901 (3.5%) were taking steroids for a minimum of 30 days before surgery. Patients on chronic steroids had significantly more comorbidities compared with the remaining population. After propensity score matching and double-adjusted logistic regression, chronic steroid use was found to be associated with increased surgical complications and poorer surgical outcomes. Chronic steroid use significantly increased a patient’s risk of having a hospital stay longer than 30 days by 19%, risk of readmission within 30 days by 58%, risk of reoperation by 21%, and risk of death by 32%. Conclusion After controlling for differences in comorbidities and demographics, patients on chronic steroids have significantly poorer perioperative outcomes. Chronic steroid use should be evaluated and, if possible, addressed before surgery, given their significant impact on surgical outcomes.
Bladder Cancer in the Genomic Era.

Context.— Bladder cancer is a heterogeneous disease that exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical and pathologic features. The classification of bladder cancer has been traditionally based on morpholog...
Microbiology and Fermentations in the Prairie Regional Laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada 1946–1971

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the microbiological and fermentation studies and achievements of the Prairie Regional laboratory of the National Research Council of Canada. This laboratory was to be concerned primarily with investigations into the utilization of agricultural crops, especially those produced in surplus, and the materials that largely go to waste. The laboratory is now well equipped for research in microbiology, the chemistry of natural products, biochemistry, enzymology, and plant physiology. By February, 1949 , the fermentation section was well into its task of studying the effects of molds, yeasts, actinomycetes, and bacteria on various agricultural products, with a view to conversion of these to useful chemicals, antibiotics, pharmaceuticals, feedstuffs, and vitamins. The laboratory had been provided with a fermentations pilot plant of 15-, 200 -, and 1,500-gal fermentors, various recovery equipment, and distilling columns. The bugs had to be taken out of the equipment and various test-runs conducted. The chapter mentions that other activities of the Prairie Regional Laboratory have developed over the years. Currently, there are groups specifically concerned with: proteins, high protein seed crops, carbohydrates, vegetable fats and oils, oil seed crops, forest products composition and analysis of plant leaf waxes and beeswax, and plant cell cultures.
Bilateral Bilothorax: An Unusual Cause of Bilateral Exudative Pleural Effusion.

Bilothorax is an uncommon cause of exudative pleural effusion; the majority of reported cases are right-sided while a bilateral presentation is extremely rare. The majority of cases are secondary to biliary obstruction, an extension of hepatic infections, and iatrogenic complications following percutaneous procedures or surgical interventions. Imaging studies and a diagnostic pleural tap can confirm the diagnosis. Early recognition and complete drainage are important to prevent life-threatening complications, including empyema formation. We present a case of a 71-year-old female who developed bilateral bilothorax as a complication of gallstone pancreatitis.
The Negative Behaviors in Healthcare Survey: Instrument Development and Validation.

Background and purpose Examine the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Negative Behaviors in Healthcare (NBHC) Survey. Methods A principal axis factor analysis with varimax rotation was conducted utilizing the 2012 NBHC survey data (n = 1,918) to explore the underlying structure of the NBHC instrument. A confirmatory factor analysis using AMOS 23 (Arbuckle, 2014) was then conducted using the 2014 NBHC survey data (n = 1,479). Results Internal consistency reliability was supported for four of the five identified factors, while construct validity for a five factor solution was established with acceptable model fit indices (Goodness of Fit Index [GFI] = 0.98; Relative Fit Index [RFI] = 0.98, Normed Fit Index [NFI] = 0.98, Root Mean Square Residual [RMR] = 0.05). Conclusions The NBHC instrument is a valid reliable instrument to assess negative behaviors among interprofessional healthcare team members, adding to a select few available instruments measuring negative behavior among interprofessional healthcare workers.
Michael V. Pisani. Music for the Melodramatic Theatre in Nineteenth-Century London and New York

ABSTRACT: Review of Michael Pisani’s monograph on music for popular drama in the nineteenth-century Anglo-American theatre. A compendious, if repetitive, discussion of an overlooked aspect of theatre history. Essential reading for theatre historians, musicologists, and scholars working at the intersection of theatre and sound.
Taxonomy of IoT Vulnerabilities

Although a plethora of security mechanisms currently exist aiming at enhancing IoT security, many research and operational problems remain unsolved, raising various concerns and thus undermining the confidence in the IoT paradigm. To put forward a new perspective related to IoT security, in this chapter, the taxonomy of IoT vulnerabilities in the context of various dimensions is given and potential future directions are discussed.
Fecal metagenomics and metabolomics reveal gut microbial changes after bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Evidence from longitudinal patient studies regarding gut microbial changes after bariatric surgery is limited. Objective To examine intraindividual changes in fecal microbiome and metabolites among patients undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Setting Observational study. Methods Twenty patients were enrolled and provided stool samples before and 1 week, 1 month, and/or 3 months after surgery. Shallow shotgun metagenomics and untargeted fecal metabolomics were performed. Zero-inflated generalized additive models and linear mixed models were applied to identify fecal microbiome and metabolites changes, with adjustment for potential confounders and correction for multiple testing. Results We enrolled 16 women and 4 men, including 16 white and 4 black participants (median age = 45 years; presurgery body mass index = 47.7 kg/m2). Ten patients had Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 10 had vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and 14 patients provided postsurgery stool samples. Of 47 samples, median sequencing depth was 6.3 million reads and 1073 metabolites were identified. Microbiome alpha-diversity increased after surgery, especially at 3 months. Significant genus-level changes included increases in Odoribacter, Streptococcus, Anaerotruncus, Alistipes, Klebsiella, and Bifidobacterium, while decreases in Bacteroides, Coprocosccus, Dorea, and Faecalibacterium. Large increases in Streptococcus, Akkermansia, and Prevotella were observed at 3 months. Beta-diversity and fecal metabolites were also changed, including reduced caffeine metabolites, indoles, and butyrate. Conclusions Despite small sample size and missing repeated samples in some participants, our pilot study showed significant postsurgery changes in fecal microbiome and metabolites among bariatric surgery patients. Future large-scale, longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate gut microbial changes and their associations with metabolic outcomes after bariatric surgery.
When Middle School Students Compose: An Examination of Processes and Products

AbstractThis study describes the writing processes and products of middle school students and explores relationships among processes, products, and variables, including gender, grade, and level of cognitive development. Twelve subjects wrote four letters in response to assigned topics. Data collection included papers, talk-aloud and stimulated recall videotapes, and audio tapes of interviews.Although the writers employed many strategies and had some sense of purpose and audience, they lacked control over their composing activities and were unable to transfer strategies from one task to another. Although these writers considered themselves capable, their papers received mediocre ratings. The subjects wrote longer papers in response to an expressive task, but syntax was more mature on information and persuasion. Females preferred expressive discourse, and their papers received higher ratings than males. Formal thinkers wrote discourse which was more syntactically mature and received higher ratings than conc...
Best Practices in Assessment and Intervention with Infants and Toddlers

Assessment and intervention with infants and toddlers present unique challenges and opportunities for early intervention practitioners and teams. This chapter will address tools used for developmental screening, assessment, and progress monitoring. These topics will help readers understand the requirements for determining whether children are eligible for Part C early intervention programs and the importance of progress monitoring to establishing goals, assessing progress, and evaluating the effectiveness of intervention. Simple progress monitoring tools will be offered for use in early intervention practice. This chapter will also highlight best practices in working with infants and toddlers, including tips to engage and empower caregivers and facilitate the parent-child relationship and strategies to implement routines-based early intervention and learning through play. Tips for establishing rapport and setting the stage for an effective collaborative partnership at the first early intervention visit will be provided.
An innovative pharmacology curriculum for medical students: promoting higher order cognition, learner-centered coaching, and constructive feedback through a social pedagogy framework.

Ongoing developments in medical education recognize the move to curricula that support self-regulated learning processes, skills of thinking, and the ability to adapt and navigate uncertain situations as much as the knowledge base of learners. Difficulties encountered in pursuing this reform, especially for pharmacology, include the tendency of beginner learners not to ask higher-order questions and the potential incongruency between creating authentic spaces for self-directed learning and providing external expert guidance. We tested the feasibility of developing, implementing, and sustaining an innovative model of social pedagogy as a strategy to address these challenges. Constructivism, communities of practice, and networked learning theory were selected as lenses for development of the model. Three hundred sixty-five first-year medical students participated between 2014 and 2018; they were introduced to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics via 15 online modules that each included: learning objectives, a clinical vignette, teaching video, cumulative concept map, and small group wiki assignment. Five-person communities organized around the 15 wiki assignments were a key component where learners answered asynchronous, case-based questions that touched iteratively on Bloom’s cognitive taxonomy levels. The social pedagogy model’s wiki assignments were explored using abductive qualitative data analysis. Qualitative analysis revealed that learners acquired and applied a conceptual framework for approaching pharmacology as a discipline, and demonstrated adaptive mastery by evaluating and interacting competently with unfamiliar drug information. Learners and faculty acquired habits of self-directed assessment seeking and learner-centered coaching, respectively; specifically, the model taught learners to look outward to peers, faculty, and external sources of information for credible and constructive feedback, and that this feedback could be trusted as a basis to direct performance improvement. 82–94% of learners rated the social pedagogy-based curriculum valuable. This social pedagogy model is agnostic with regard to pharmacology and type of health professional learner; therefore, we anticipate its benefits to be transferable to other disciplines.
Optimizing and Sustaining Timely Intravenous Access for Children Treated for Suspected Septic Shock in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Background: In 2007, we launched our pediatric emergency department program for rapid recognition and escalated management of suspected septic shock. We encountered large variation in our 2-element bundle (timely antibiotic and intravenous fluid [IVF] administration) compliance. Following order set implementation in 2011, we achieved median 96% compliance to our 2-element bundle, however noted wide month-to-month variation over the ensuing 2 years. Methodology: In 2014, we began troubleshooting the problem using standard quality improvement methodologies including Pareto analysis. We identified intravenous (IV) access delay as a significant barrier (45%) to achieving 2-element bundle …
Prognostic value of systemic inflammatory markers in first- and subsequent-line immunotherapy and durability of response in NSCLC.

e21210Background: Treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) has been shown to yield durable responses. High neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios (NLR), low...
Impact of Communications Quality of Service (QoS) on Remote ID as an Unmanned Aircraft (UA) Coordination Mechanism

This paper examines the feasibility of using broad-cast remote ID messages for the deconfliction of Unmanned Aircraft (UA). We will consider scenarios within both spatially constrained and noisy environments, such as in urban corridors, and open spatial environments with fewer impacts to communication, such as in rural environments. Within these environments, we will determine the levels of packet loss for remote ID messages which allow UA to maintain safe separation.
Children, Courts, and Custody: Interdisciplinary Models for Divorcing Families

Preface 1. Overview 2. Kramer vs Kramer revisited: the sole custody/adversary system paradigm 3. Divorce, children and courts: an empirical perspective 4. Parents are forever I: joint custody and parenting plans 5. Parents are forever II: Alternative dispute resolution and mediation 6. Parents are forever III: Court-affiliated educational programs 7. Contrasting child custody court paradigms: New York and California 8. Family violence 9. Differentiated case management 10. Lawyers for parents 11. The voice of the child, the lawyer for the child and child alienation 12. Neutral Mental Health Evaluators 13. The best interests test and its presumption-based competitors 14. Consolidating the new paradigm: the future of the child custody court Acknowledgements Endnotes.
Relaxation of beta-structure in tear lipocalin and enhancement of retinoid binding.

PURPOSE. To study binding of retinoids to human tear lipocalin (TL) to assess factors influencing ligand affinity and delivery. Mechanistic features of retinoid interactions with TL were investigated, including the influence of the retinoid functional group on ligand affinity, the relative affinity of retinol versus fatty acids, the influence of relaxation of secondary structure in TL on ligand binding, the role of specific conserved hydrophobic residues in maintaining the rigidity of the secondary structure, and the potential release of retinol in a low-pH environment that promotes structural relaxation at lipid interfaces. METHODS. The binding and displacement of retinoids were monitored by quenching of protein fluorescence. Circular dichroic spectra were used to evaluate structural and conformational changes in TL-retinoid complexes. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to determine the influence of the residues Trp17, Ile98, Gly15, and Leu19 in retinoid binding to TL and to correlate these effects with changes in secondary structure. RESULTS. Retinal and retinol bound TL with similar affinity. Fatty acids competed with retinoids for the same binding site on TL. Optical activity associated with retinal binding to TL was reduced in the presence of palmitic acid. In comparison with TL, the mutants W17C and I98C displayed relaxation of secondary structure, manifested as diminution of β-sheet content in conjunction with a destabilization in urea, reduced aromatic asymmetry, and greater binding affinity for retinoids. Unlike fatty acids, retinol is not released from TL at low pH. CONCLUSIONS. The unique spectral properties of retinoids permit the simultaneous study of structural changes in TL and ligand binding. Retinoid binding is enhanced by specific mutations that induce relaxation of TL structure but is altered minimally by the functional group in retinoids. Two key hydrophobic residues, Trpl7 (A strand) and Ile98 (G strand), contribute to backbone rigidity and influence retinoid binding through their participation in an internal hydrophobic cluster and external hydrophobic patch, respectively. The contributions of these sites to ligand binding may explain their conserved nature in the lipocalin family. Information regarding the binding and release of retinoids compared with fatty acids favors a role for TL in the delivery of lipids other than retinol to the tear film interfaces.
Dosage Dependent Gene Regulation and the Compensation of the X Chromosome in Drosophila Males

Dosage compensation refers to the phenomenon that despite the difference in copy number of X chromosomes in males and females approximately equal expression results from the sex chromosomes. We describe evidence for a model that dosage compensation is caused by an 'inverse dosage effect’ that results from an altered stoichiometry of transcriptional regulators on the X versus the autosomes. This imbalance of regulators would cause a two-fold increase in target gene expression throughout the genome in the absence of any modification. The two-fold hyperactivation compensates the X chromosome. However, the MSL (male specific lethal) complex modifies this effect on the autosomes, which would otherwise double their expression, by becoming sequestered to the X chromosome together with a histone acetylase (MOF) and kinase (JIL1). This situation reduces the level of histone 4 Lys16 acetylation and H3 phosphorylation on the autosomes, thus bringing their expression down to near the female level. The presence of the MSL complex on the X modifies chromatin in such a manner that it counteracts any impact of increased histone acetylation and phosphorylation on gene expression. This situation fosters the proper two-fold increase in gene expression needed for X chromosomal dosage compensation in males and reduces the inverse effect on the autosomes to equalize gene expression throughout the genome for the two sexes.
Calcium Channel Blockers: The Present and the Future

Over the past two decades, calcium channel blockers have been used extensively in the treatment of hypertension, ischemic heart disease, and supraventricular arrhythmias. Since 1993, they have been the most frequently used class of antihypertensive drugs; in fact, in 1995 they accounted for 29% of all drugs prescribed for this patient population.', ' The reasons for their extensive use are their high degree of efficacy; relatively low frequency of serious adverse effects; and lack of effect on serum lipids: insulin resistance, and renal hem~dynamics.~ In addition, calcium channel blockers reduce left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients.* The purpose of this editorial is to provide a perspective on recent publications evaluating the use of calcium channel blockers in hypertension. I also discuss the prospective, randomized trials that are currently enrolling patients to determine i f calcium channel blockers reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients. The effectiveness of calcium channel blockers in reducing blood pressure compared with placebo and other antihypertensive drugs has been demonstrated clearly in two of the most widely publicized hypertension trials in recent years, the Treatment of Mild Hypertension Study6 and the Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study Group on Antihypertensive Agents.7, Despite the impressive performance of calcium channel blockers in reducing the surrogate end point of blood pressure, they have not been shown to reduce nonfatal and fatal cardiovascular complications or all-cause mortality in a randomized hypertension trial. In 1993, the fifth Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
Social Welfare and Mental Health Care

The field of mental health and illness is broad and interdisciplinary; hence the use of the term “social welfare” to capture the interdisciplinary nature of mental health care. Social scientists from the fields of psychiatry, psychology, sociology, social work, nursing, law, and criminology have all contributed to our understanding of what is needed to provide care, support, and treatment to those living with chronic mental illnesses. Psychiatry and sociology offer competing etiologies of mental illness, with psychology and social work articulating integrated bio-psychosocial approaches. This entry will examine these contrasting views of mental health and treatment, ongoing scholarly debates, and systems of mental health care. Keywords: biological; caregiving; institutionalization; mental health; sociology of mental health
An Ice Sheet Remembers

Are we witnessing the early stages of the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet? In his Perspective, Ackert explains that to answer this question, we must study the behavior of the ice sheet not just in recent decades but over thousands of years. He highlights the report by Stone et al ., who document slow but steady thinning of the ice sheet over the last ~9300 years, punctuated by more rapid thinning as the ice margin approaches. The record is consistent with earlier suggestions that the ice sheet is still responding to changes in climate and sea level that occurred thousands of years ago, making it difficult to predict its response to present climate warming.
Biological systems as reactive systems

Systems Biology is a new discipline aiming to understand the behavior of biological systems as it results from the (non-trivial, ”emergent”) interaction of biological components. We discuss some biological networks that are characterized by simple components, but by complex interactions. The components are separately described in stochastic pi-calculus, which is a ”programming language” that should scale up to description of large systems. The components are then wired together, and their interactions are studied by stochastic simulation. Subtle and unexpected behavior emerges even from simple circuits, and yet stable behavior emerges too, giving some hints about what may be critical and what may be irrelevant in the organization of biological networks.
A Fool's Paradise: The Windows World after a Forced Breakup of Microsoft

This is a followup paper to an earlier paper of mine estimating the costs to developers of a Microsoft breakup. It responds to papers by Levinson, Romaine, and Salop (lrs.pdf) and Lenard (lenard.doc).Among other things, this paper examines the changes in the windows operating system and explains why, if broken into three competing versions, they must lose complete compatibility, imposing additional costs on developers. It also explains why these extra development costs are deadweight losses.Other papers related to the Microsoft Case:"Creating Competition in the Market for Operating Systems: A Structural Remedy for Microsoft" by Thomas M. Lenard."The Flawed Fragmentation Critique of Structural Remedies in the Microsoft Case" by Robert J. Levinson, R. Craig Romaine, and Steven C. Salop."Breaking Windows: Estimating Some Costs of Breaking up Microsoft Windows" by Stan J. Liebowitz.Our database includes more than 20 other papers about the Microsoft case. To find them, please use an "abstract body" search,. and enter "Microsoft" as the search term.
Don Carlos Chimo del Perú: ¿del Común o cacique?

Siguiendo el rastro judicial y notarial dejado a mediados del siglo XVII por un indigena que decia llamarse Carlos Chimo, desde sus enfrentamientos con las autoridades coloniales en la costa norte del Peru hasta su desafiante presentacion ante la corte real espanola, este articulo explora las formas en que lideres andinos afirmaron multiples identidades y, en el proceso, hicieron evidente la posicion ambigua de los vasallos indigenas en los reinos espanoles. Mediante la exploracion de las circunstancias que llevaron a la peticion de Chimo en su condicion de cacique indigena y de las razones expuestas para acusarlo de impostor, este articulo busca entender las formas en que los sujetos indigenas rompieron con la retorica del vasallaje a ambos lados del Atlantico
Rain and Rocks: The Recipe for River Water Chemistry

Aerosols are the primary source of chemical elements transported by rainwater, which are removed from the atmosphere by rainout or by washout. Atmospheric aerosols (sea salt, crustal dust, and biogenic aerosols) have been found as the major sources of dissolved species in river water. Dissolved components from rainwater come from those originating from sea salt aerosols; from those originating from terrestrial aerosols (soil dust, biological emissions); and from those originating from anthropogenic sources (industry, agriculture, burning of fossil fuels, etc.). Along with the geological characterization of the watershed, meteorological parameters are critically important in evaluating rainfall effects. Keywords: rainout; washout; sea salt aerosols; terrestrial aerosols; rainwater chemistry; strontium isotope
Orthopedic radiography in exotic animal practice

Radiographic examination of exotic animal species provides significant diagnostic information to the practitioner so long as attention is paid to positioning and radiographic detail and if variations in normal radiographic anatomy are contemplated. Fracture of pneumatic bones (humerus or femur) in avian patients often results in subcutaneous emphysema, much like an open fracture. If fracture alignment is anatomical, there is generally little callous formation visible in avian and reptile patients; however, if malunion occurs, then certainly callous can be visualized. Aggressive or excessive periosteal proliferation in exotic species often predicts osteomyelitis. Practitioners can increase their diagnostic capabilities and thereby decrease any preconceived anxiety by applying the same general interpretive concepts used in the radiography of more routine small animal patients and by evaluating the resultant radiographs in a systematic manner. With the exception of certain anatomical differences and alterations in response to injury, exotic animal species suffer the same types of orthopedic disease do dogs and cats.