cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adoption of alcohol-based handrub by United States hospitals: a national survey.

The extent to which the use of alcohol-based handrub for hand hygiene has been adopted by US hospitals is unknown. A survey of infection control coordinators (response rate, 516 [72%] of 719) revealed that most hospitals (436 [84%] of 516) have adopted alcohol-based handrub. Leadership support and staff receptivity play a significant role in its adoption. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2008; 29:1177-1180
Social context of shell acquisition in Coenobita clypeatus hermit crabs

Vacancy chains involve unique patterns of resource acquisition behaviors that determine how reusable resources are distributed through animal populations. Shell vacancy chains have been described for several hermit crab species, both terrestrial and marine, but little is known about the ecological and behavioral dynamics of shell choice in social versus solitary contexts. Here, we present a novel conceptual framework that differentiates 2 types of shell vacancy chain in hermit crabs and discuss fundamentally distinct predictions concerning the behavioral and ecological costs and benefits associated with synchronous versus asynchronous vacancy chains. In laboratory studies of the terrestrial hermit crab Coenobita clypeatus, we found support for the prediction that social context alters shell acquisition behaviors. Field observations demonstrated that both synchronous and asynchronous vacancy chains are common and revealed previously undescribed waiting and piggybacking behaviors that appear to facilitate synchronous vacancy chains. Additionally, simulation results from an agent-based model showed that population density and waiting behaviors can both influence the likelihood of synchronous vacancy chains. Together, these results indicate that better understanding of hermit crab resource acquisition requires studying social behaviors, including vacancy chain formation. Key words: agent-based modeling, NETLOGO, resource acquisition, shell crowding, shell fit, shelter-based vacancy chain, social behavior, vacancy chains. [Behav Ecol]
THE CHLORITE SERIES OF FLAGSTAFF HILL AREA, CALIFORNIA: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION

The results of X-ray diffraction, DTA, i.r. spectroscopy, and chemical tests are presented for some chlorites typical of the Flagstaff Hill area. The area is notable for the large variety of chlorite types occurring in considerable quantities. Chlorite, in this area, is found as veins, as pseudomorphs, and as individual crystals. Textures vary from massive, fine-grained aggregates to books which are more than 20 mm in width. Crystals more than 5 mm in size occur in parallel groupings at rock interfaces. Judging from 45 chlorite samples studied, sheridanite is most abundant; clinochlore and ripidolite are common. Penninite and its Cr-chlorite equivalent are less abundant. The parent rock is an irregularly shaped ultramafic body surrounded by low-grade schists and located very close to a granodiorite stock. The original ultramafic rocks have been highly altered by metamorphism and metosomatism into assemblages comprised mainly of serpentine, talc, hornblende, and chlorite with relics of olivine, pyroxene, and other less abundant original minerals. Much of the exposed rock is essentially monomineralic, mostly consisting of various polytypes of serpentine. Preliminary investigation indicates that the area merits much more study because of the opportunity for readily observing the various chlorite types and determining their genesis, alteration sequences and weathering characteristics. The area, being easily accessible, could also serve as an adequate source for samples to be used as reference standards.
Why Does Imagery of Disability Include Healing in Isaiah

The restoration of the exilic community ranks among the most dominant themes in prophetic literature. Imagery of physical disability serves as a standard element within prophetic oracles concerning...
Angular Diversity Reception at 2290 MC Over a 188-Mile Path

Experiments were performed over the 188-mile Round Hill-Crawfords Hill path at 2290 mc to determine the feasibility of using angular diversity reception in a tropospheric scatter system. Using a 28-foot reflector, two beams were produced with two separate feed systems. The correlation of the signals received on one of the two beams with that received on the other was determined for various spacing of the beams, as well as for the azimuthal position of the antenna. These experiments show that angular diversity techniques can be effective depending on the proper choice of frequency, antenna size, and beam separation for paths in the neighborhood of 200 miles in length. A substantial "diversity gain" can be achieved even though partial correlation exists. These results also appear to be in good agreement with theoretical predictions for equal means and for the short periods of time applicable to obtaining reliable voice and high speed teletype communications.
Transforming Growth Factor β1 Ameliorates Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Disruption by Cryptosporidium parvum In Vitro in the Absence of Mucosal T Lymphocytes

Exposure to oocysts of the protozoan Cryptosporidium parvum causes intestinal epithelial cell dysfunction in vivo and in vitro, but effective means by which mucosal injury might be prevented remain unclear. We examined the ability of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)—a cytokine synthesized and released by cells in the intestine—to preserve the barrier function of human colonic epithelia when challenged with C. parvum oocysts and then studied the mechanisms involved. Epithelial barrier function was monitored electrophysiologically, receptors for TGF-β1 were localized by confocal microscopy, and TGF-β1-induced protein kinase C activation was detected intracellularly by translocation of its α isozyme. TGF-β1 alone enhanced intestinal epithelial barrier function, while exposure to C. parvum oocysts (≥105/monolayer) markedly reduced barrier function to ≤40% of that of the control. When epithelial monolayers were pretreated with TGF-β1 at 5.0 ng/ml, the barrier-disrupting effect of C. parvum oocysts was almost completely abrogated for 96 h. Further investigation showed that (i) the RI and RII receptors for TGF-β1 were present on 55 and 65% of human epithelial cell line cells, respectively, over a 1-log-unit range of receptor protein expression, as shown by flow cytometry and confirmed by confocal microscopy; (ii) only basolateral and not apical TGF-β1 exposure of the polarized epithelial monolayer resulted in a protective effect; and (iii) TGF-β1 had no direct effect on the organism in reducing its tissue-disruptive effects. In exploring mechanisms to account for the barrier-preserving effects of TGF-β1 on epithelium, we found that the protein kinase C pathway was activated, as shown by translocation of its 80-kDa α isozyme within 30 s of epithelial exposure to TGF-β1; the permeability of epithelial monolayers to passage of macromolecules was reduced by 42% with TGF-β1, even in the face of active protozoal infection; and epithelial cell necrosis monitored by lactate dehydrogenase release was decreased by 50% 70 h after oocyst exposure. Changes in epithelial function, initiated through an established set of surface receptors, likely accounts for the remarkable barrier-sparing effect of nanogram-per-milliliter concentrations of TGF-β1 when human colonic epithelium is exposed to an important human pathogen, C. parvum.
The effects of behavioral and outcome feedback on prudent decision-making under conditions of present and future uncertainty

One of the largest reasons decision-makers make bad decisions (act imprudently) is that the world is full of uncertainty, we feel uncertain about the consequences of our actions. Participants played a repeated game in which decisions were made under various types of uncertainty (either no uncertainty, uncertainty about the present consequences of behaviors, uncertainty about the future consequences of behavior, or both types of uncertainty). The game required prudent decision making for success. While playing the game one of three types of feedback was placed between trials, either no feedback, behavioral feedback, or behavioral plus outcome feedback. Prudent decision-making decreased when both types of uncertainty were added. Further, the addition of feedback increased prudent decision-making when future uncertainty was present. The increase in prudent decisions appears to be from feedback’s ability to allow us to create probabilities associated with behaviors and their consequences, implying that anything that reduces the uncertainty people feel in a world full of uncertainty will increase their ability to make prudent decisions.
On some new production processes for ≈ 1012 eV muons

Abstract Callan and Glashow and Keuffel have proposed the existence of U and W particles respectively, to explain the lack of zenith angular dependence of cosmic ray muons in the experiment by the Utah group. Arguments are presented to show that both these hypotheses are implausible.
Does narrative writing instruction enhance the benefits of expressive writing

Abstract We examined whether instructing participants to write in a narrative fashion about stressful life events would produce superior physical and psychological health benefits relative to standard expressive writing instructions that do not specify the essay's structure. Undergraduates (N=101) were randomly assigned to engage in two, 20-minute narrative writing, standard expressive writing, or control writing tasks. Follow-up data were obtained one month later. The essays of the narrative writing group evidenced higher levels of narrative structure than did those of the expressive writing group. Greater narrative structure was associated with mental health gains, and self-rated emotionality of the essays was associated with lesser perceived stress at follow-up. In addition, the narrative and expressive writing groups reported lower levels of perceived stress and depressive symptoms relative to controls but did not differ from each other with regard to these outcomes. Health care utilization at follow-...
The Other Muslimah

Websites like Altmuslimah, which are run by women and focused on issues of salience to women’s lives, can offer a perspective that differs greatly from the discourse found on widely visited Islamic information sites. Online counter-narratives produced by women instead of about women call for a fresh look at orthodox traditions and interpretations of religious texts that limit the acceptable experiences of the diverse Muslim women worldwide, especially concerning converts and those living in non-Arab communities. As one of the most frequently contested issues for Muslim women, the hijab offers a way into how the dominant Muslim narrative frames what it means to be a believing woman in Islam and how counter-narratives provide women with ways to create their own meaning.
The Neurofunctional Basis of Sensorimotor Preservation in Multiple Sclerosis (P6.138)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the neurofunctional basis of preserved sensorimotor function in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). BACKGROUND: The “clinico-radiological paradox” of MS refers to the disconnect between disease burden as measured on MRI, and clinical presentation. Applying this to sensorimotor function, it is unclear why some MS patients are able to maintain sensorimotor function despite high disease burden. Here, using functional MRI, we investigate the functional integrity of neural networks in MS patients with varying degrees of sensorimotor preservation. DESIGN/METHODS: Participants were 28 relapsing-remitting MS patients. Motor Preservation was derived as the difference between actual motor performance (Purdue Pegboard, 9 Hole Peg composite) and expected motor performance (predicted by multiple regression considering demographic and disease variables). Using seed-based analysis, we examined the correlation between Motor Preservation and resting-state functional connectivity (FC) within the sensorimotor network. RESULTS: Higher Motor Preservation was associated with higher FC within the sensorimotor network (p=.01). That is, despite similar structural disease burden, RRMS patients with greater neurofunctional integrity (indicated by higher FC) were better able to preserve their sensorimotor function. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first investigation of the neurofunctional basis of sensorimotor preservation in MS. These findings support FC as a potentially sensitive outcome variable for clinical trials evaluating sensorimotor treatments in MS. In addition, longitudinal studies should investigate whether sensorimotor network FC is predictive of sensorimotor decline over time (i.e., a potential biomarker of sensorimtor function). Disclosure: Dr. Leavitt has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sumowski has nothing to disclose.
Effects of Multilevel Selection on the Evolution of Homo neandertalensis

In this article, I use a model based on a paper by E. O. Wilson et al. (2007) to examine how multilevel selection may have affected the evolution of Neandertals. Multilevel selection theory states that natural selection can occur in multiple levels of the biological hierarchy. This model has never been applied to a hominid species to date. By synthesizing this research by Wilson et al. and genetic studies by Green et al. (2010) revealing that Neandertals and humans interbred in the Middle East 80,000 years ago, I show how multilevel selection may have affected Neandertal evolution. Further, I argue that group level selection may not have had as drastic an effect on Neandertal evolution as it did on human populations. I conclude by recommending ways this model may be applied to other species in our evolutionary tree to help understand how multilevel selection has affected hominids through time.
Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling in Long Josephson Junctions

The dynamic behavior of fluxons in a current biased long Josephson junction provides a system for studying quantum tunneling of a macroscopic variable, the total magnetic flux through the junction. Adjacent Fiske steps on the I-V curve provide potential wells where, at appropriate bias conditions and temperatures, tunneling can be observed. The junction parameters determine the tunneling behavior of the variable; it is observed to be incoherent. However, for certain conditions the system may exhibit coherent behavior.
East Palo Alto: A community divided

East Palo Alto is an anomaly in the Mid-Peninsula. The community houses a primarily minority and low-income population. The economic miracle which brought development and tax revenues to the rest of the Silicon Valley has largely bypassed East Palo Alto. This paper examines the debate in East Palo Alto over whether incorporation would help solve the community’s problems.
Cavity Evolution at Grain Boundaries as a Function of Radiation Damage and Thermal Conditions in Nanocrystalline Nickel

Enhanced radiation tolerance of nanostructured metals is attributed to the high density of interfaces that can absorb radiation-induced defects. Here, cavity evolution mechanisms during cascade damage, helium implantation, and annealing of nanocrystalline nickel are characterized via in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Films subjected to self-ion irradiation followed by helium implantation developed evenly distributed cavity structures, whereas films exposed in the reversed order developed cavities preferentially distributed along grain boundaries. Post-irradiation annealing and orientation mapping demonstrated uniform cavity growth in the nanocrystalline structure, and cavities spanning multiple grains. These mechanisms suggest limited ability to reduce swelling, despite the stability of the nanostructure.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is defined as the presence of either obsessions or compulsions. Obsessions can entail the following characteristics [1]: Persistent/recurrent impulses and thoughts are inappropriate and intrusive and lead to severe anxiety. The thoughts and impulses are beyond real-life concerns and worries. The patient attempts to suppress or dispense with the thoughts by creation of another thought or neutralizing action. The patient understands that the intrusive thoughts are generated in his/her own mind. Compulsions can entail the following characteristics [1]: Repetitious behaviors or actions are performed secondary to an obsession. The act follows a scripted course without deviation. The behaviors and actions are performed as an avenue to prevent anxiety or to preempt a perceived future untoward event. Obsessive-compulsive disorder usually develops in adolescence or early adulthood; 75% of cases have onset before age 30 [2]. Originally considered...
Electrocardiogram Analysis on Hyperkalemia

Objective: To explore clinical value of ECG in diagnose of hyperkalemia.Methods:ECG was analyzed in 10 patients with hyperkalemia.Rusults:The normal kalium concentration was 3.5~5.5mmol/L.When K+ concentration elevated 5.5mmol/L,ECG showed shape of tent appears high T wave,two were symmetrical,QRS complex wave increased the wide deformity,unstable intraventricular block,Q-T interval prolong,sino P wave disappeared,sino-ventricular conduction,P-R interval was prolong,R-Rinterval was nent torelatively spare,Tachycardia bear a strong resemblance to junctionaltachycardia or ventricular tachycardia.Conclusion:ECG shows high wave of sharp T,unstable intra-ventricular black,P wave disappear,sino-ventricular conduction.The combination is dinical but the altitude prompt hyperkalemia.
Validity of the Family APGAR in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Background This study explores the validity of the Family APGAR (adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve), a test of family function, in persons with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Previous studies have reported increased stress in persons with IBS in the form of marital and interpersonal relationships. Methods The Family APGAR and the MMPI were completed by 198 persons, including 58 who sought care for IBS, 67 with IBS who did not seek care, and 73 who did not have the disorder. Family APGAR scores were compared for the three groups using analysis of variance. Multiple regression analysis was used to compare Family APGAR scores with both IBS group status and MMPI K and L scales. An odds ratio was calculated for the two groups with IBS. Results Mean Family APGAR scores were in the normal range for all three groups and differed by less than 1 point among the groups. The Family APGAR score did not differentiate among persons with IBS but was strongly related to the MMPI K score, a measure of defensiveness in test taking. Conclusions The failure of the Family APGAR to detect the family dysfunction found by psychological interviewing and the strong relationship with the MMPI K scale lead us to question the construct validity of the APGAR. More sophisticated test construction is necessary to measure family dysfunction in patients who may tend to respond defensively.
Impact of managed MediCal on California family practice programs.

BACKGROUND An important source of patients for California's family practice program is MediCal. During the past 5 years, MediCal has established a variety of capitated managed care plans. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of California's managed MediCal program on the state's 38 family practice training programs. DESIGN A cross-sectional, retrospective descriptive survey. METHODS A 3-page, 11-question survey was developed by family practice residency directors and staff from the California Academy of Family Physicians, San Francisco. The 38 family practice programs in existence in California in September 1997 were stratified by type of managed MediCal in their county and by type of sponsoring institution--university, county, community based, staff-model health maintenance organization, or managed care system. RESULTS Of the 38 family practice programs, 27 responded; 19 of 27 programs participated in managed MediCal. The total number of family health center patients, and the percentage of MediCal patients (48%-60%) at family practice programs was similar when stratified by programs with and without managed MediCal and by type of sponsorship. Most programs reported that they were able to compete effectively, although most also reported increased administrative, nursing, and front office costs. Managed MediCal patients were directly assigned to residents in only 3 of 19 programs. CONCLUSIONS The introduction of managed MediCal has not adversely affected the number of patients cared for in California's family practice programs. Continued vigilance regarding California family practice programs' involvement in managed MediCal, including collection of accurate data on the number of MediCal patients and the financial and educational implications for California's family practice programs, is warranted.
A novel flexible wearable sensor for estimating joint-angles

To circumvent current limitations of wearable sensors that can be used to assess and monitor joint movements, we developed an accurate, low-cost, flexible wearable sensor comprising a retractable reel, a string, and a potentiometer. This sensor is intended to estimate joint angles in correlation with the amount of skin stretch measured by the change in the length of the string. In this study, we validated the accuracy of the sensor against an optoelectronic system in estimating knee joint angles using a dataset obtained from 9 healthy individuals while they walk and run on a treadmill. By our simple calibration procedure, we could convert the voltage output of the potentiometer to the amount of skin stretch as subjects flex or extend their knee. Then, we incorporated a simple polynomial fitting model to estimate the joint angle. Using a leave-one-subject-out cross validation, we achieved an average root mean square error of 4.51 degrees. This work demonstrates the accuracy of the proposed system in estimating knee joint angles and provides the basis to develop more complex systems to assess and monitor joints having more degrees of freedom. We believe that our novel low-cost wearable sensing technology has great potential to enable joint kinematic monitoring in ambulatory settings.
Knowledge discovery and data mining implications for nurse leaders

As systems evolve, their tendency is to become more complex. Studies in the field of complex systems have generated new perspectives on the application of management strategies in health systems. This is the 2nd in a series of articles addressing the mounting challenges faced by nursing leaders demanding insights from the vast amounts of information collected and stored by their organizations.
The onset and evolution of fatigue-induced abnormal grain growth in nanocrystalline Ni–Fe

Conventional structural metals suffer from fatigue-crack initiation through dislocation activity which forms persistent slip bands leading to notch-like extrusions and intrusions. Ultrafine-grained and nanocrystalline metals can potentially exhibit superior fatigue-crack initiation resistance by suppressing these cumulative dislocation activities. Prior studies on these metals have confirmed improved high-cycle fatigue performance. In the case of nano-grained metals, analyses of subsurface crack initiation sites have indicated that the crack nucleation is associated with abnormally large grains. However, these post-mortem analyses have led to only speculation about when abnormal grain growth occurs (e.g., during fatigue, after crack initiation, or during crack growth). In this study, a recently developed synchrotron X-ray diffraction technique was used to detect the onset and progression of abnormal grain growth during stress-controlled fatigue loading. This study provides the first direct evidence that the grain coarsening is cyclically induced and occurs well before final fatigue failure—our results indicate that the first half of the fatigue life was spent prior to the detectable onset of abnormal grain growth, while the second half was spent coarsening the nanocrystalline structure and cyclically deforming the abnormally large grains until crack initiation. Post-mortem fractography, coupled with cycle-dependent diffraction data, provides the first details regarding the kinetics of this abnormal grain growth process during high-cycle fatigue testing. Precession electron diffraction images collected in a transmission electron microscope after the in situ fatigue experiment also confirm the X-ray evidence that the abnormally large grains contain substantial misorientation gradients and sub-grain boundaries.
Redefining Ladd's path

Inspiration and innovation go hand in hand. Throughout history tragedies, including those personal and life altering, have inspired susceptible minds to find innovative ways to educate and tackle difficult problems. This address is first about origins. It weaves the story of how incredible individuals and events have shaped similar circumstances into not only our profession of pediatric surgery beginning with William E. Ladd, but also the emergency and trauma care system in this country. The address circles back to look at the past and future of our profession of pediatric surgery. Predictive models forecast that we are training too many pediatric surgeons in the traditional sense. The address describes how we might envision a paradigm shift in training using a different model and capitalizing on the talents of more young surgeons who want to take care of children. We are an incredible profession, but many have abdicated a need to include trauma patients and critical care in their practice of pediatric surgery. The model would include different pathways of training, enable more surgeons to be capable in aspects of children's surgical care, and provide optimal general surgical care for more children in the United States. This is an opportunity to redefine Ladd's path.
Alcohol Oral Self-Administration in Rats: Attempts to Elicit Excessive Intake and Dependence

The search for an animal analogue of human alcoholism has been the subject of intense research interest since Richter’s (1) demonstration that a rat will drink weak alcohol solutions in preference to water. However, in the three decades following these studies there has yet to be a demonstration of addiction to alcohol in an animal when oral se1f-administration techniques have been employed (e.g., 2,3). This conclusion is based on the fact that in no self-selection study, even those in which “experimental alcoholism” has been claimed, have the criteria of drug and, specifically, alcohol addiction been met. These criteria are: 1) The oral self-administration of alcohol, in the absence of food deprivation, in amounts sufficient to regularly produce intoxication, as determined by both behavioral analysis and blood alcohol levels; 2) The development of tolerance to alcohol’s effects after chronic oral self-administration; 3) The development of a withdrawal syndrome (i.e., physical dependence) upon abrupt withdrawal of alcohol following a period of chronic self-administration; and 4) The development of “psychological dependence” on alcohol, as indicated by, for example, the animals self-selection of alcohol to avoid a withdrawal syndrome or willingness to perform work or overcome an imposed barrier to obtain alcohol. Although a number of investigators have recently reported the production of physical dependence on alcohol in several species and by a variety of procedures (4,5,6,7), it can be unequivocally stated that, on the basis of the criteria outlined above, an animal analogue of human alcoholism has not yet been generated.
Self-reported reasons for not receiving mental health treatment in adults with serious suicidal thoughts

Objective This study examined self-reported reasons for not receiving mental health treatment among adults with past-year serious suicidal thoughts and their sociodemographic characteristics associated with these reasons. Methods Using the 2008-2013 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, we examined 8,400 respondents aged 18 years or older who had past-year serious thoughts of suicide and did not receive mental health treatment that year. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the associations between sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported reasons for not receiving mental health treatment among these suicidal adults. Results Among adults with serious suicidal thoughts who did not receive mental health treatment in the past year, three-fourths did not feel the need for treatment. Of the one-fourth of those who felt the need for treatment, the main reason for not receiving treatment was financial (58.4%), followed by logistical reasons such as not knowing where to go (36.1%). A greater proportion of suicidal adults than nonsuicidal adults perceived more than 1 barrier to treatment (43.8% vs 34.3%). Among suicidal adults who did not receive mental health treatment that year, the odds of not feeling the need for mental health treatment were higher in men (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.42-1.99), adults aged 50 years or older (AOR = 3.02; 95% CI, 2.02-4.51), racial and ethnic minorities (AORs = 1.59-2.13), publicly insured (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.14-2.07), and nonmetropolitan residents (AOR = 1.50; 95% CI, 1.20-1.88). Conclusions Most suicidal adults did not feel the need for mental health treatment. Of those who felt the need, multiple barriers were identified. A multifaceted approach to address these barriers is needed to promote receipt of mental health treatment among this vulnerable population.
Finite-dimensional irreducible □q-modules and their Drinfel'd polynomials

Abstract Let F denote an algebraically closed field with characteristic 0, and let q denote a nonzero scalar in F that is not a root of unity. Let Z 4 denote the cyclic group of order 4. Let □ q denote the unital associative F -algebra defined by generators { x i } i ∈ Z 4 and relations q x i x i + 1 − q − 1 x i + 1 x i q − q − 1 = 1 , x i 3 x i + 2 − [ 3 ] q x i 2 x i + 2 x i + [ 3 ] q x i x i + 2 x i 2 − x i + 2 x i 3 = 0 , where [ 3 ] q = ( q 3 − q − 3 ) / ( q − q − 1 ) . There exists an automorphism ρ of □ q that sends x i ↦ x i + 1 for i ∈ Z 4 . Let V denote a finite-dimensional irreducible □ q -module of type 1. To V we attach a polynomial called the Drinfel'd polynomial. In our main result, we explain how the following are related: (i) the Drinfel'd polynomial for the □ q -module V ; (ii) the Drinfel'd polynomial for the □ q -module V twisted via ρ . Specifically, we show that the roots of (i) are the inverses of the roots of (ii). We discuss how □ q is related to the quantum loop algebra U q ( L ( sl 2 ) ) , its positive part U q + , the q -tetrahedron algebra ⊠ q , and the q -geometric tridiagonal pairs.
u-p semi-Lagrangian reproducing kernel formulation for landslide modeling

Summary This paper presents a u-p (displacement-pressure) semi-Lagrangian reproducing kernel (RK) formulation to effectively analyze landslide processes. The semi-Lagrangian RK approximation is constructed based on Lagrangian discretization points with fixed kernel supports in the current configuration. As a result, it tracks state variables at discretization points while allowing extreme deformation and material separation that is beyond the capability of Lagrangian formulations. The u-p formulation following Biot theory is incorporated into the formulation to describe poromechanics of saturated geomaterials. In addition, a stabilized nodal integration method to ensure stability of the domain integration and kernel contact algorithms to model contact between bodies are introduced in the u-p semi-Lagrangian RK formulation. The proposed method is verified with several numerical examples and validated with an experimental result and the field data of an actual landslide.
Pesticides and Human Health

This paper will review some recent data compiled from a variety of sources on the human health hazard of pesticides.
Investigation of the interaction of amyloid β peptide (11–42) oligomers with a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membrane using molecular dynamics simulation

Some amyloid related proteins/peptides are involved in aggregation and pore formation in phospholipid membranes (cell membranes), which result in a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington disease. In this research, the mechanism of pore formation by β amyloid (Aβ) peptides was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation by simulating the interaction of the Aβ(11-42) peptide, with a lipid membrane and the potential of the mean force of interaction was evaluated. A 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) membrane system with different cholesterol concentrations was used to simulate the neural cell membrane. The results indicated that Aβ(11-42) peptide oligomers with peptide numbers larger than two were more likely to lead to lipid deformation and water channels, and the free energy of penetration into the membrane decreased with the increasing number of peptides. Increasing the concentration of cholesterol leads to a higher energy barrier for the penetration of peptide into the lipid bilayer thereby protecting the membrane. The results of this research have potential application in the prevention of pore formation by Aβ aggregates on the lipid membrane.
Gallstone dissolution therapy: Current status and future prospects

Findings by several groups of investigators have provided a reliable data base that supports a nonoperative approach toward the management of so-called silent gallstones. Considerable progress has been made in the medical dissolution treatment of selected patients with cholesterol gallstones. Ursodeoxycholic acid, and, more recently, a combination of ursodeoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids have been shown to be both effective and safe in dissolving gallstones that are predominantly composed of cholesterol. A drawback of the bile acid dissolution therapy lies in a significant recurrence rate after treatment is discontinued. Currently, several new methods of gallstone treatment are under study, which involve either the injection of a cholelitholytic solution, such as methyl tert-butyl ether, into the gallbladder or the use of mechanical means, such as excorporeally induced shock waves, to disintegrate gallstones. These treatments, however, are effective only if the stones are composed mainly of cholesterol without significant admixtures of calcium salts, pigment, or mucus. Most of the treatment failures are probably related to the presence of calcifications that are not visible on conventional radiographs. Future improvements of gallstone dissolution therapy can be expected from the following possible developments: improvement in ability to predict gallstone composition; dissolution of calcium salt-, pigment-, and mucus-containing stones; early treatment, before calcifications occur; combination of chemical and mechanical methods of treatment; stimulation of gallbladder contraction; prevention of stone recurrence after dissolution; and synthesis of new cholelitholytic agents.
Breast cancer-specific survival in patients with HER2-positive, node-negative T1a and T1b breast cancer.

Abstract Purpose There is limited data on prognosis of node-negative (N0), HER2-positive (HER2+) small breast cancers. We evaluated breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) among women diagnosed with T1a/T1b, N0 tumors in California between 2000–2004 and 2005–2012, eras before and after approval of adjuvant trastuzumab. Patients and Methods 45,346 women diagnosed with T1a/b, N0 tumors between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012 were identified in the California Cancer Registry (CCR); approximately 10% were HER2 + , and 80% hormone receptor positive (ER and/or PR+). Primary outcome was BCSS, analyzed in 2000–2004 and 2005–2012. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for mortality, and separately conducted for hormone receptor positive and negative tumors. Kaplan-Meier curves compared BCSS by HER2 status. Results While BCSS in this cohort exceeded 90%, a significantly higher hazard of breast cancer death was observed in women with HER2+ tumors in the 2000–2004 era. There was no difference in outcomes between T1a and T1b tumors. Women with ER/PR+ tumors had lower hazards of death in both eras, but HER2+ tumors were associated with a higher hazard of death in the 2000–2004 era. Among women with hormone receptor negative tumors, HER2 positive disease was associated with a lower hazard of death in the 2005–2012 era. Conclusion Within this large cohort of T1a/b N0 breast cancers from the CCR, HER2+ tumors were associated with a significantly worse BCSS in the era before adjuvant trastuzumab. A balanced discussion regarding HER2-directed therapies is needed between patient and clinician.
Comparing the Effectiveness of Classroom and Online Learning: Teaching Research Methods

As public administration programs extend their online education offerings to reach more time- and place-bound students, and as accredited institutions become interested in documenting teaching and ...
EFFECT OF ROSEMARY POWDER ON THE QUALITY OF DRY EWE SAUSAGES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rosemary powder on the quality of dry ewe sausages. Color parameters (L, a* and b*), pH and microbiological profile were evaluated over the 6-day drying period. Sausages with 4 % rosemary powder added showed the lowest values of total viable counts and total coliforms. pH values of dry ewe sausages with rosemary powder decreased significantly during drying. Redness (a*) decreased significantly during the drying of control dry sausages against a stability in sausages added with rosemary powder. Finally, incorporating rosemary significantly affected dry sausages acceptability.
Selective abortion for familial Alzheimer disease

Advances in human genetics will soon allow prenatal diagnosis of genetic conditions in the fetus that range from trivial to devastating. This commentary explores the concept of severity in genetic diseases and decisions regarding selective abortion. Familial Alzheimer disease is used as a model for the analysis of ethical issues raised by prenatal diagnosis and the subsequent termination of pregnancy. The genetics of the disease has yet to be elucidated, but this condition may be amenable to prenatal diagnosis in the near future, at least in some families. Abortion is a choice open to women in the United States; however, it is still desirable to discuss on purely ethical grounds pregnancy termination in the case of late-onset but severe diseases.
Unitary and orthogonal equivalence of sets of matrices

Abstract Two matrices A and B are called unitary (resp. orthogonal) equivalent if A U = V B for two unitary (resp. orthogonal) matrices U and V. Using trace identities, criteria are given for simultaneous unitary, orthogonal or complex orthogonal equivalence between two sets of matrices.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis causing cardiac tamponade

Community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an organism that can cause life threatening injuries with 6 cases of purulent pericarditis secondary to MRSA being reported so far. We report a 66 year-old -female who presented to our hospital with a two-week history of worsening shortness of breath, associated with pleuritic chest pain and chills. Patient was found to be positive for influenza type A virus two weeks prior to this presentation, but was never treated. Physical exam upon arrival showed muffled heart sounds and jugular venous distention. Electrocardiogram showed diffuse ST segment elevations along with PR segment depressions in anterolateral leads. She underwent emergent transthoracic echocardiogram that demonstrated a large pericardial effusion most noticeable around the right ventricle with impedance of right ventricle filling. Patient had a pericardial window performed and purulent fluid was drained. Pericardial fluid cultures grew MRSA. Patient was started on vancomycin along with colchicine for MRSA pericarditis and became hemodynamically stable. Pericarditis due to MRSA is extremely rare, especially in the antimicrobial era and in the absence of prior surgical interventions.
Review of imaging technologies used in Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Background Until recently, clinical assessment with manual palpation of the HS lesions was the primary means to detect HS lesions and their borders. In the past decade, there has been increased application of imaging technologies to HS patients, and it is reported that manual palpation consistently underestimates HS. Of the technologies, ultrasound (US) imaging has been the most efficacious and well-studied. In the present review, we will discuss the various imaging modalities that aid in detecting, managing, and treating HS. Materials and methods Non-invasive HS imaging technologies including ultrasound (US) imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), medical infrared thermography (MIT), positron emission topography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) were reviewed and compared through a review of the literature. PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar were utilized. Results Of the 4 HS technologies reviewed, US imaging and MRI are the most established and useful non-invasive modalities utilized in HS patients. However, MIT may have potential to aid in the pre-operative and intra-operative surgical excision of HS lesions. Conclusion For imaging HS lesions, US imaging is the most well-characterized and has the greatest range of use, while MRI has a role in severe, anogenital HS lesions. MIT of HS lesions is a novel application and merits attention.
Coronal Shear Fractures of the Distal Humerus: A Review of Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes:

Fractures of the capitellum and trochlea are uncommon fractures of the elbow and can be challenging to treat due to their size, location, and articular nature. Because of their intra-articular nature and predilection toward displacement, these fractures are typically treated operatively. Furthermore, capitellum fractures have high rates of associated injuries, including radial head fractures or lateral collateral ligament injury in ~30% to 60% of patients. In addition to open reduction internal fixation, operative options include fragment excision, arthroscopic assisted reduction and fixation, and elbow arthroplasty. In this article, we undertake a comprehensive literature review of capitellum fractures of the distal humerus, in an attempt to summarize the existing body of evidence and propose areas of future study.
Use of a Double Gloving Technique to Decrease Cross-Contamination by Anesthesia Providers

The purpose of this project was to determine the impact of double gloving during the induction of general anesthesia on the incidence of cross-contamination by the anesthesia provider. In a representative sample of anesthesia providers, induction sequences were initially evaluated using the providers' standard technique (group 0). The same providers were reevaluated after being educated on the double gloving technique (group 1). One month later the providers were reevaluated to identify which ones continued the double gloving technique (group 2). For each sequence, all providers were asked to complete a general anesthesia induction following a standard sequence (n = 30). Every anesthesia workstation was cleaned before each induction using the same supplies, and a black light was used to iden-tify any contamination. The workstations included the anesthesia circuit/face mask, breathing bag, anesthesia machine (adjustable pressure-limiting valve/vaporizer), medication cart, intravenous (IV) stopcock, and IV fluid bag. Each group's workstation was evaluated before and after induction for foreign body changes. The 3 groups were compared using a related-samples Friedman test, which demonstrated that the double gloving technique significantly decreased contamination in most areas studied (P < .01). Use of a double gloving technique decreased cross-contamination by greater than 50%.
Methods and utility of quantitative brainstem measurements in progressive supranuclear palsy versus Parkinson's disease in a routine clinical setting

Abstract Background and Purpose The clinical diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy can be challenging, as the clinical presentation overlaps with that of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. We sought to examine the practical utility of radiologic markers of progressive supranuclear palsy by investigating whether these markers could distinguish between patients with progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome (PSP-RS) and those with Parkinson's disease based on imaging obtained in a typical clinical setting, not in a prospective research environment. Materials and methods This retrospective study included 13 patients with PSP-RS and 13 patients with Parkinson's disease who were followed for either condition at our institution at the time of the study and who had MRI records available. Patients were selected without regard to type of imaging obtained. All diagnoses were confirmed by a trained movement disorders specialist using validated diagnostic criteria. Groups were matched for age and disease duration at the time of scanning. MRI records were retrospectively obtained, and image analysis was performed by investigators blinded to disease classification. Midbrain area, midbrain to pons area ratio, midbrain anterior-posterior diameter, and MR parkinsonism index were calculated for each patient. Results All established measures of identifying progressive supranuclear palsy (midbrain area, midbrain to pons area ratio, midbrain anterior-posterior diameter, and MR parkinsonism index) were significantly different between patients with PSP-RS and those with Parkinson's disease. Conclusion Previously established radiographic markers distinguishing between PSP-RS and Parkinson's disease have practical utility in the clinical setting and not just in well-designed prospective analyses.
Osteomyelitis-Discitis at the Thoracolumbar Junction and the Development of Postinfectious Spinal Deformity: A Surgical Case Series

ABSTRACT Background Progressive spinal deformity and neural compromise are the main indications for surgical management of vertebral osteomyelitis-discitis. However, when such pathology presents at the thoracolumbar (TL) junction, it remains unclear what the appropriate intervention is. The therapeutic dilemmas of decompression with or without instrumented fusion, the need for circumferential decompression and reconstruction, as well as the prognostic factors for progression of kyphosis, all remained ill-defined in the literature. The objective of this study is to evaluate risk factors for instrumentation at TL junction in spinal osteomyelitis-discitis. Methods A review of patients at a single center with osteomyelitis-discitis at the TL junction between 2014 and 2018 was performed. Patients were 18 years or older with infectious pathologies at T10 to L2. Results Sixteen patients were included. Indication for instrumentation included progression of kyphosis following prior laminectomy/medical management. Of the 16 patients, 4 patients received laminectomy at initial treatment versus 12 patients receiving medical management alone. All 4 patients receiving laminectomy experienced progressive kyphosis requiring revision with instrumented fusion versus only 4 of 12 of the medically managed. Laminectomy, epidural compression, and vertebral body collapse were significant risk factors for kyphosis progression requiring instrumentation. The average time to surgical intervention for the indication of progressive kyphosis was 2.6 months after prior laminectomy and 6 months after initiation of medical management. Conclusions Given the proclivity for kyphotic deformity at the TL junction, patients may benefit from long segment instrumentation in addition to decompression at the initial surgery. Laminectomy alone may hasten kyphosis progression.