cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is selective lymphadenectomy more cost-effective than routine lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer?

Abstract Objective The objective of this study is to determine the cost-effectiveness of two strategies in women undergoing surgery for newly diagnosed endometrial cancer. Methods A decision analysis model compared two surgical strategies: 1) routine lymphadenectomy independent of intraoperative risk factors or 2) selective lymphadenectomy for women with high or intermediate risk tumors based on intraoperative assessment including tumor grade, depth of invasion, and tumor size. Published data were used to estimate the outcomes of stage, adjuvant therapy, and recurrence. Costs of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy were estimated using Medicare Current Procedural Technology codes and Physician Fee Schedule. Cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated for each strategy. Sensitivity analyses were performed including an estimate for lymphedema for patients that underwent a lymphadenectomy. Results For 40,000 women diagnosed annually with endometrial cancer in the United States, the annual cost of selective lymphadenectomy is $1.14billion compared to $1.02billion for routine lymphadenectomy. The selective lymphadenectomy strategy cost an additional $123.3million. Five-year progression-free survival was 85.9% in the routine strategy compared to 79.3% in the selective strategy. Treatment cost $6349 more per survivor in the selective strategy compared to routine strategy ($36,078 vs. $29,729). These results held up under a variety of sensitivity analyses including costs due to lymphedema which were higher in the routine lymphadenectomy strategy compared to the selective lymphadenectomy strategy ($10million vs. $7.75million). Conclusions A strategy of selective lymphadenectomy based on intraoperative risk factors for patients with endometrial cancer was less cost-effective than routine lymphadenectomy even when the impact of lymphedema was considered.
Shrinkage force and molecular orientation in polyacrylonitrile fibers

A correlation between sonic modulus and shrinkage force was found for fibers spun from copolymers of acrylonitrile and other vinyl monomers. Using this correlation, the orientation factor as defined by Moseley can be calculated from a single shrinkage force measurement, permitting a fast and reliable characterization of fibers and spinning conditions. Equipment and modus operandi are described.
Cautious, but optimistic: An ethnographic study on location and content of primary care providers using electronic medical records

The integration of technology into primary care facilities has the potential to improve patient care, but also may disrupt provider workflows. Technologies that are designed to fit the use patterns and ideal interactions of providers will be better accepted and utilized. Our ethnographic study of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) usage by 10 primary care providers identified where providers utilize the EMR system and what tasks they complete at those locations. Because the majority of providers only wanted to view and extract information from the EMR system in the exam room, we suggest a more cautious approach to deploying technology in primary care facilities. Until EMR technologies are designed to fit provider documentation workflows, providers should focus on retrieving information from these systems in exam rooms instead of inputting information. We present design considerations for technology to support data viewing, documentation, and collaboration in primary care.
Experiments in International Relations: Lab, Survey, and Field

At conferences, at seminars, and on political science blogs, the potential utility of experimental methods for international relations (IR) research continues to be a hotly contested topic. Given the recent rise in creative applications of experimental methods, now is a useful moment to reflect more generally on the potential value of experiments to study international affairs, how these inherently micro-level methods can shed light on bigger-picture questions, what has been learned already, what goals are probably out of reach, and how various research agendas in IR might productively incorporate experiments.
Tin(IV) Chloride

[7646-78-8] Cl4Sn (MW 260.51) InChI = 1/4ClH.Sn/h4*1H;/q;;;;+4/p-4/f4Cl.Sn/h4*1h;/q4*-1;m InChIKey = HPGGPRDJHPYFRM-LUCXXLOKCB (strong Lewis acid used to promote nucleophilic additions, pericyclic reactions, and cationic rearrangements; chlorination reagent) Alternate Name: stannic chloride. Physical Data: colorless liquid; mp −33 °C; bp 114.1 °C; d 2.226 g cm−3. Solubility: reacts violently with water; sol cold H2O; dec hot H2O; sol alcohol, Et2O, CCl4, benzene, toluene, acetone. Form Supplied in: colorless liquid; 1 M soln in CH2Cl2 or heptane; widely available. Purity: reflux with mercury or P2O5 for several hours, then distill under reduced nitrogen pressure into receiver with P2O5. Redistill. Typical impurities: hydrates. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: hygroscopic; should be stored in a glove box or over P2O5 to minimize exposure to moisture. Containers should be flushed with N2 or Ar and tightly sealed. Perform all manipulations under N2 or Ar. Solvating with H2O liberates much heat. Use in a fume hood.
Age of Nurse Bees and Brood Rearing

SUMMARYNurse bees were forced to rear brood continuously, under field and laboratory conditions. The weight and the length of life of the bees they reared decreased when the nurse bees were much older than is normal (40–98 days instead of 5–16 days). Intestines of emerged bees reared by nurse bees 50 days old and more were very fragile. In the control colonies these phenomena were not observed.
Delivery of interleukin-10 via injectable hydrogels improves renal outcomes and reduces systemic inflammation following ischemic acute kidney injury in mice

Injectable hydrogels can be used to deliver drugs in situ over a sustained period of time. We hypothesized that sustained delivery of interleukin-10 (IL-10) following acute kidney injury (AKI) would mitigate the local and systemic proinflammatory cascade induced by AKI and reduce subsequent fibrosis. Wild-type C57BL/6 mice underwent ischemia-reperfusion AKI with avertin anesthesia. Three days later, mice were treated with either hyaluronic acid injectable hydrogel with or without IL-10, or IL-10 suspended in saline, injected under the capsule of the left kidney, or hydrogel with IL-10 injected subcutaneously. Untreated AKI served as controls. Serial in vivo optical imaging tracked the location and degradation of the hydrogel over time. Kidney function was assessed serially. Animals were killed 28 days following AKI and the following were evaluated: serum IL-6, lung inflammation, urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and renal histology for fibroblast activity, collagen type III deposition and fibrosis via Picrosirius Red staining and second harmonic imaging. Our model shows persistent systemic inflammation, and renal inflammation and fibrosis 28 days following AKI. The hydrogels are biocompatible and reduced serum IL-6 and renal collagen type III 28 days following AKI even when delivered without IL-10. Treatment with IL-10 reduced renal and systemic inflammation, regardless of whether the IL-10 was delivered in a sustained manner via the injectable hydrogel under the left kidney capsule, as a bolus injection via saline under the left kidney capsule, or via the injectable hydrogel subcutaneously. Injectable hydrogels are suitable for local drug delivery following renal injury, are biocompatible, and help mitigate local and systemic inflammation.
A New Genus and Species of South American Leafhopper Belonging to a New Tribe of the Jassinae

During 1944 while in charge of the planting of the new Cinchona plantation in Peru, Professor J. G. Sanders, formerly of the University of Wisconsin, collected several thousand specimens of interesting Homoptera in the immediate vicinity of the plantation. Among this material is an interesting species bearing characters of the Cicadellidae but superficially resembling a Fulgorid. The narrow head with appressed eyes, the narrow elongate vertex with high lateral carinae, the dorsal keel on the pronotum, and the elytra with little pustulate spots along the veins give the appearance of a member of the Fulgoridae. On the other hand the legs with the rows of spines are a definite Cicadellid characteristic and the wing venation is similar to the genus Jassus. There seems to be little doubt but that it should be associated with the genera Jassus and Tinobregmus in the Subfamily Jassinae and it resembles especially certain of the narrow elongate Mexican Tinobregmus in general appearance. It seems to represent another tribe, however, and I am suggesting the name Sandersellini as a new tribe which is characterized by high lateral carinae on the vertex, a median dorsal carina on the pronotum, and a long narrow face scarcely wider than the clypeus. The genus Sandersellus which is also described at this time is the only known genus belonging to this tribe.
Which algorithm should be used to screen for syphilis

Purpose of review A growing number of laboratories have implemented a reverse screening algorithm for syphilis testing, which has created confusion among many healthcare providers. This review focuses on recent data addressing the clinical and economical impact of reverse screening and discusses the advantages and limitations of the traditional and contemporary algorithms. Recent findings Screening for syphilis using a treponemal assay detects a higher number of patients with reactive results compared to traditional screening by rapid plasma reagin (RPR). Furthermore, a significant percentage of patients who are reactive by a treponemal screening assay are nonreactive by RPR. These discordant results may occur in patients with past, treated or untreated syphilis; early syphilis; or no syphilis. Recent reports suggest that the reverse screening algorithm may result in increased patient follow-ups, overtreatment, and potentially higher cost. However, other data suggest that reverse screening facilitates the detection of latent and early syphilis, while offering an objective and automated screening approach. Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends syphilis screening with a nontreponemal test. However, as laboratories continue to implement the reverse screening algorithm, it is important that samples with discordant screen-reactive, RPR-nonreactive results be tested by a second treponemal assay to assist in the interpretation of results.
Abstract 1484: Aldose reductase inhibition prevents breast cancer cell growth and restores breast cancer cell hormone dependency

Breast Cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. women. Hormone ablation therapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence and improves the survival rate of most BC patients. Although BC initially responds to estrogen ablation therapy, as the cancer progresses, the cancer cells become hormone-independent and prone to metastasis, a major cause of mortality in BC patients. The few currently available drugs that restore hormone dependence are only partially effective and prohibitively costly. Hence there is an urgent need for novel therapeutic modalities. We have recently shown that aldose reductase (AR)-catalyzed GSH-lipid aldehyde conjugates such as GS-DHN induces growth factors-, cytokines- and chemokines-mediated signals that activate PKC, PLC and PI3K, which regulate transcription of NF-κB- and AP1-dependent inflammatory markers. Further, AR has been shown to be overexpressed in human breast cancers. We have investigated the efficacy of AR inhibition in preventing BC cells growth and reversing hormone dependency of BC cells. Our results indicate that pharmacological inhibition of AR or siRNA ablation of AR prevents growth factor -induced proliferation of BC cells (MCF-7) in culture. Similar results were observed when MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 BC cells were used. To further investigate how AR inhibitor prevents BC cell growth, we have examined the role of AR in resensitization of BC cells to letrozole. We found that combination of fidarestat with letrozole was very effective in inducing maximum cell death in LTLT-Ca cells when compared to fidarestat alone. The combination treatment not only restored estrogen receptor-α (ER-α) levels but also down-regulated HER2/MAPK-signaling proteins. Further, AR-siRNA - transfected MCF-7/Aro and MCF-7 cells upregulated ER-α in western blot and ER-functionality assays whereas in LTLT-Ca cells, ER-α levels were down-regulated as in fidarestat treated cells. Targeting the LTLT-Ca cells with PLG-based fidarestat nanoparticles having polyethylene glycol (PEG)-5000 as stabilizer and conjugated with FITC significantly prevented the aromatase activity in BC cells. Thus we have identified a novel role of AR in BC cell growth and estrogen-dependence of hormone insensitive BC cells and suggest the use of AR inhibitors either alone or in combination with letrozole to prevent as well as treat BC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1484.
Indentation Creep of Molybdenum: Comparison Between Thin Film and Bulk Material

Indentation creep, load relaxation, and rate-change experiments probe room temperature and 80°C creep properties of a 1.3 μm-thick molybdenum film on silicon. The film, with 0.51 GPa compressive stress, 8 GPa hardness and estimated 40 nm grain size, was deposited using steered-arc evaporation at -17V bias. Despite its small grain size and high hardness, the thin film behaves like bulk molybdenum does: the rate sensitivity of the hardness is only weakly-dependent on measurement path (as with bulk material), and activation volumes calculated based on strain rate sensitivity are consistent with those of bulk molybdenum We suspect deformation mechanisms are similar to those in bulk molybdenum under similar conditions.
Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry Differentiates Protein Quaternary Structures Formed in Solution and in Electrospray Droplets.

Electrospray ionization coupled to mass spectrometry is a key technology for determining the stoichiometries of multiprotein complexes. Despite highly accurate results for many assemblies, challenging samples can generate signals for artifact protein–protein binding born of the crowding forces present within drying electrospray droplets. Here, for the first time, we study the formation of preferred protein quaternary structures within such rapidly evaporating nanodroplets. We use ion mobility and tandem mass spectrometry to investigate glutamate dehydrogenase dodecamers and serum amyloid P decamers as a function of protein concentration, along with control experiments using carefully chosen protein analogues, to both establish the formation of operative mechanisms and assign the bimodal conformer populations observed. Further, we identify an unprecedented symmetric collision-induced dissociation pathway that we link directly to the quaternary structures of the precursor ions selected.
Maidese Versus Motherese — Is The Language Input of Child and Adult Caregivers Similar?:

This paper considers whether there is any difference in the amount and characteristics of language addressed to infants by their primary caregivers, the maid and the mother, in a society where multiple caregiving is commonplace. It also considers any possible effect on motherese of the mothers' belief in reincarnation. The language of 16 mothers and their 16 maids with 12-month old infants, was analyzed. There were significant differences in the amount of language and types of utterances, but few differences in the functions of the utterances or topics introduced.
The Influence of Elastic Strain on Catalytic Activity in the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Understanding the role of elastic strain in modifying catalytic reaction rates is crucial for catalyst design, but experimentally, this effect is often coupled with a ligand effect. To isolate the strain effect, we have investigated the influence of externally applied elastic strain on the catalytic activity of metal films in the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). We show that elastic strain tunes the catalytic activity in a controlled and predictable way. Both theory and experiment show strain controls reactivity in a controlled manner consistent with the qualitative predictions of the HER volcano plot and the d-band theory: Ni and Pt's activities were accelerated by compression, while Cu's activity was accelerated by tension. By isolating the elastic strain effect from the ligand effect, this study provides a greater insight into the role of elastic strain in controlling electrocatalytic activity.
B-lymphoid neoplasms: immunoglobulin genes as molecular determinants of clonality, lineage, differentiation, and translocation

The basic rules of Ig gene recombination that were learned from examining clonal proliferations of B cells have paid enormous dividends in improving our understanding of B-cell malignancy. The DNA rearrangements of Ig genes creates a tumor-specific marker capable of establishing the clonality, cellular lineage, and stage of development of a lymphoid tumor. Most importantly, the Ig genes have proved to be the sites of interchromosomal translocations that contribute directly to the malignant phenotype. These genetic tools hold the promise of improving our classification schemes, providing sensitive and specific approaches to following the clinical course, and providing insights into pathogenesis that will prompt improved therapies.
Membrane-Bound Compartments in Bacteria: Membrane-bound structures within gram-negative photosynthetic and magnetotactic bacteria help overturn an old dogma about prokaryotes

Once thought to be mere bags of enzymes, bacterial cells are remarkably more complex. Like eukaryotes, for example, bacteria are compartmentalized. Traditionally, living organisms were divided into prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and the members of the two groups were thought to differ in very basic respects. Thus, eukaryotes were classified as having complex cell structures, including cytoskeletons and intracellular membrane-bounded organelles, whereas prokaryotes were believed to lack them.
Conventional Plant Breeding Principles and Techniques

Conventional plant breeding is the development or improvement of cultivars using conservative tools for manipulating plant genome within the natural genetic boundaries of the species. Mendel's work in genetics ushered in the scientific age of plant breeding. The number of genes that control the trait of interest is important to breeders. Qualitative traits (controlled by one or a few genes) are easier to breed than quantitative traits (controlled by numerous genes). General steps in breeding are: objectives, creation/assembly of variability, selection, evaluation and cultivar release. Breeders use methods and techniques that are based on the mode of reproduction of the species self-pollinating, cross-pollinating, or clonally propagated. The general strategy is to breed a cultivar whose genetic purity and productivity can be sustained by its natural mating system. There are six basic types of cultivars: pure line, open-pollinated, hybrid, clonal, apomictic and multilines. The common methods for breeding self-pollinated species include mass selection, pure line selection, pedigree, bulk population, single seed descent, backcrossing, multiline and composite. Methods for breeding cross-pollinated species include mass selection, recurrent selection, family selection and synthetics. Hybrid cultivar breeding exploits the phenomenon of heterosis, and is applicable to both self- and cross-pollinated species. Polyploids have complex genetics. Hybridization of parents is often accompanied by infertility of the hybrid. Mutation breeding may be resorted to when the gene of interest is non-existent in nature and may be induced. Also, sometimes, the desired trait is found in wild relatives of the species and may be introgressed into cultivated species through pre-breeding.
Ambipolarity in a tokamak with magnetic field ripple

In view of the recognized importance of electrostatic fields regarding turbulent transport, the radial electric field in a tokamak with magnetic field ripple is reconsidered. Terms in the ambipolarity condition involving the radial derivative of the field are derived from an extended drift-kinetic equation, including effects of second order in the gyroradius. Such terms are of interest in part because of their known importance in rotational relaxation equations for the axisymmetric case. The electric field is found to satisfy a nonlinear differential equation that is universal in a certain sense, and that implies spatial relaxation of the potential to its conventionally predicted value.
Do pesticides reduce our total exposure to food borne toxicants

In addition to the long history of disease and death from natural toxicants in plants, there is a growing literature about the abundant levels and varieties of natural toxicants in our foods. These natural chemicals cause mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, teratogenicity, neurotoxicity and visceral organ toxicity in routine laboratory tests. While many of these chemicals occur at rather fixed levels in foods, there is evidence that a large number of natural toxicants increase or decrease with levels of plant stress. When plants are stressed from infection or predation, they characteristically respond with a rapid increase in defensive chemicals. Because increases in natural toxicants are stress mediated, the prevention of infection and predation can reduce the levels of the natural toxicants in our food supply. In addition, fungal infections induce a chemical response from the plant, and also excrete their own array of toxins, sometimes at high levels. Crop protection chemicals are used to reduce plant stress, but there is no program today to balance the risk from crop protection chemicals (which are extensively tested and heavily regulated) against the possible benefit of decreased risk from natural plant and fungal toxicants (which are only sporadically tested and are largely unregulated). Because crop protection chemicals are logically linked to inhibition of the expression of natural toxicants, there may be considerable food safety benefits from an approach to pesticide risk management that evaluates the risk versus risk equation. On the other hand, inattention to the issue of suppression of natural toxicants may lead to an unintended increase in our exposure to this wide array of naturally occurring chemicals.
Flame resistant cotton

Abstract: This chapter overviews the historical development of flame retardants for cotton and flame retardant finishing of cotton textiles, but its emphasis is on the current status of flame retardant cotton. It discusses the chemistry, applications and performance of a whole spectrum of flame retardants for cotton, including non-durable and semi-durable flame retardants, traditional and recent phosphorus-based durable flame retardants, and flame retardant back-coating. Also discussed is the flame retardant finishing of cotton fleece. The challenges facing the industry lay in (1) continuing to improve performance and to reduce negative environmental impact of existing flame retardants; and (2) searching for more environmental friendly alternative condensed phase flame retardants, finding replacements for halogenated flame retardants for back-coating, and developing flame retardant technology for cotton blends.
Handling Environments in a Nested Relational Algebra with Combinators and an Implementation in a Verified Query Compiler

Algebras based on combinators, i.e., variable-free, have been proposed as a better representation for query compilation and optimization. A key benefit of combinators is that they avoid the need to handle variable shadowing or accidental capture during rewrites. This simplifies both the optimizer specification and its correctness analysis, but the environment from the source language has to be reified as records, which can lead to more complex query plans. This paper proposes NRAe, an extension of a combinators-based nested relational algebra (NRA) with built-in support for environments. We show that it can naturally encode an equivalent NRA with lambda terms and that all optimizations on NRA carry over to NRAe. This extension provides an elegant way to represent views in query plans, and can radically simplify compilation and optimization for source languages with rich environment manipulations. We have specified a query compiler using the Coq proof assistant with NRAe at its heart. Most of the compiler, including the query optimizer, is accompanied by a (machine-checked) correctness proof. The implementation is automatically extracted from the specification, resulting in a query compiler with a verified core.
Sexual minorities in conflict zones: A review of the literature

Abstract In civil and ethnic conflict, sexual minorities experience a heightened risk for war crimes such as sexual violence, torture, and death. As a result, sexual minorities remain an invisible population in armed conflict out of a need for safety. Further study of sexual minorities in conflict zones confronts matters of human rights, war crimes, and the psychosocial effects of war. This article reviews the existing research on sexual minorities in conflict zones, examines the findings on human rights, war crimes, and the psychosocial effects of war and violence on sexual minority populations, and reviews the barriers to effectiveness faced by intervention programs developed specifically to aid post-conflict societies. The article concludes with a summary of findings within the literature and further considerations for research on aggression and violent behavior with sexual minority groups in conflict zones.
Forbidden Passages: Muslims and Moriscos in Colonial Spanish America

Forbidden Passages is a well-researched study that addresses the Morisco and Muslim population in Colonial Spanish America by focusing on attitudes and practices as represented in primary legislati...
Infrastructure: Roadways in a rut

Higher air temperatures cause roadway surfaces to deteriorate more rapidly. Now research suggests that adapting design and material selection procedures to use future climate information can dramatically decrease the damage and ensuing repair cost.
Treatment history and antimicrobial susceptibility results for Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni isolates from bovine respiratory disease cases submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from 2013 to 2015:

Bovine respiratory disease is the most costly disease facing the cattle industry. Increasing resistance to antimicrobial treatment has been presented as a significant contributing factor, often through summarized susceptibility testing data. We assessed the relationship between previous antimicrobial treatment and antimicrobial susceptibility results from isolates of Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni cultured from bovine respiratory cases submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory from 2013 to 2015. Antimicrobial susceptibility data from 1,251 bacterial isolates were included for analysis. More bacterial isolates from cattle that received antimicrobial treatment showed resistance compared to isolates from untreated cattle, and the percentage of resistant isolates increased as the number of antimicrobial treatments increased. Resistance to enrofloxacin, spectinomycin, tilmicosin, and tulathromycin was present in >75% of M. haemolytica isolates...
Changes in Freshwater Mussel Communities Linked to Legacy Pollution in the Lower Delaware River

Freshwater mussels are among the most-imperiled organisms worldwide, although they provide a variety of important functions in the streams and rivers they inhabit. Among Atlantic-slope rivers, the Delaware River is known for its freshwater mussel diversity and biomass; however, limited data are available on the freshwater mussel fauna in the lower, non-tidal portion of the river. This section of the Delaware River has experienced decades of water-quality degradation from both industrial and municipal sources, primarily as a function of one of its major tributaries, the Lehigh River. We completed semi-quantitative snorkel surveys in 53.5 of the 121 km of the river to document mussel community composition and the continued impacts from pollution (particularly inputs from the Lehigh River) on mussel fauna. We detected changes in mussel catch per unit effort (CPUE) below the confluence of the Lehigh River, with significant declines in the dominant species Elliptio complanata (Eastern Elliptio) as we moved downstream from its confluence—CPUE dropped from 179 to 21 mussels/h. Patterns in mussel distribution around the Lehigh confluence matched chemical signatures of Lehigh water input. Specifically, Eastern Elliptio CPUE declined more quickly moving downstream on the Pennsylvania bank, where Lehigh River water input was more concentrated compared to the New Jersey bank. A definitive causal link remains to be established between the Lehigh River and the dramatic shifts in mussel community composition, warranting continued investigation as it relates to mussel conservation and restoration in the basin.
District Decision-Makers’ Considerations of Equity and Equality Related to Students’ Opportunities to Learn Algebra

Background/ContextIn this article we explore equity issues related to school district decision-making about students’ opportunities to learn algebra. We chose algebra because of the important role ...
Palliative Care for Movement Disorders

While care for patients with movement disorders has traditionally focused on motor symptoms, there is increasing evidence that optimal care for these disorders is more complex both in terms of the spectrum of symptoms experienced by patients (e.g., pain, depression) and the multidimensional needs of patients and their families. Palliative care is an approach to the care of patients and families affected by serious illnesses that seeks to relieve suffering by addressing complex medical symptoms, psychosocial issues, spiritual well-being, and goals of care. While traditionally associated with cancer and hospice, more recent work in palliative care has focused on integrating a palliative care approach from the time of diagnosis for patients with chronic illnesses, including movement disorders. Studies of patients with movement disorders and their family caregivers suggest that these patients have significant unmet needs under current models of care, including underrecognition and treatment of non-motor symptoms, inadequate psychosocial support, and suboptimal end-of-life care. We describe how a palliative care approach can empower clinicians, patients, and families to reduce common sources of suffering and optimize quality of life. This field recognizes the importance of primary palliative care (palliative skills useful for any clinician caring for persons caring for serious illness) as a foundation of the palliative care approach and complementary to specialist palliative care. In this article, we will focus on primary palliative care skills for movement disorder specialists including providing a diagnosis and prognosis with compassion, discussing goals of care, complex symptom management, caregiver support, spiritual and emotional well-being, and referral to hospice and specialist palliative care. A palliative care approach complements other efforts in movement disorder care. Research is needed to evaluate and develop therapeutic interventions and models of care applying a palliative care approach.
Effects of thoracic posture correction exercises on scapular position

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of thoracic extension exercise on scapular alignment and thoracic kyphosis angle. [Subjects and Methods] Ten subjects with a kyphosis angle ≥40° and aged between 20 and 26 years participated in this study. This study investigated the scapular forward distance and thoracic kyphosis angle before and after the thoracic extension exercise. [Results] The kyphosis angle after exercise was significantly decreased compared with that before exercise. Scapular forward distance after exercise significantly decreased compared to that before exercise. [Conclusion] The results of the present study suggest that correction of thoracic kyphosis should be included among exercises designed to achieve normal scapular alignment.
Phonatory and Resonatory Problems

The human voice is one of the most obvious indicators of an individual’s reaction to himself and the world around him. Even in today’s space age, despite all the scienitific instrumentation for measuring the condition of the astronauts in our space program, the medical staff uses the quality of the astronaut’s voice as a primary source of information about his physical and emotional state.
Escaping from the cell: assembly and budding of negative-strand RNA viruses.

Negative-strand RNA virus particles are formed by a process that includes the assembly of viral components at the plasma membranes of infected cells and the subsequent release of particles by budding. Here, we review recent progress that has been made in understanding the mechanisms of negative-strand RNA virus assembly and budding. Important topics for discussion include the key role played by the viral matrix proteins in assembly of viruses and viruslike particles, as well as roles played by additional viral components such as the viral glycoproteins. Various interactions that contribute to virus assembly are discussed, including interactions between matrix proteins and membranes, interactions between matrix proteins and glycoproteins, interactions between matrix proteins and nucleocapsids, and interactions that lead to matrix protein self-assembly. Selection of specific sites on plasma membranes to be used for virus assembly and budding is described, including the asymmetric budding of some viruses in polarized epithelial cells and assembly of viral components in lipid raft microdomains. Evidence for the involvement of cellular proteins in the late stages of rhabdovirus and filovirus budding is discussed as well as the possible involvement of similar host factors in the late stages of budding of other negative-strand RNA viruses.
Targeting PP2A in cancer: Combination therapies

The serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A regulates a vast portion of the phosphoproteome including pathways involved in apoptosis, proliferation and DNA damage response and PP2A inactivation is a vital step in malignant transformation. Many groups have explored the therapeutic venue of combining PP2A reactivation with kinase inhibition to counteract the very changes in tumor suppressors and oncogenes that lead to cancer development. Conversely, inhibition of PP2A to complement chemotherapy and radiation-induced cancer cell death is also an area of active investigation. Here we review the studies that utilize PP2A targeted agents as combination therapy in cancer. A potential role for PP2A in tumor immunity is also highlighted.
Child and Adolescent Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts: Evidence from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project

Objectives To examine the trends associated with child and adolescent suicidal ideation and suicide attempts and to compare these trends to those among the adult population. Study design A nationally representative sample of administrative billing data was used for the analysis, which included descriptive statistics, trend data, and logistic regression. Results There were 874 872 (95% CI, 810 574-939 169) children and adolescents and 5 561 197 (95% CI, 5 271 426-5 850 968) adults admitted to an emergency department who experienced suicidal ideation or suicide attempts between 2010 and 2014, representing 1.20% of admissions for children (95% CI, 1.13-1.37) and adolescents and 1.09% of admissions for adults (95% CI, 1.05-1.13). Children and adolescents were more likely to be female (aOR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.71-1.78) and to have private insurance (aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.68-1.83) as compared with adults. Although the percentage of admissions increased for adults 25 and older (18.95%) the greatest increases were found among children and adolescents (5-11 years of age, 37.87%; 12-14 years of age, 82.03%; 15-17 years of age, 51.59%; and 18-24 years of age, 26.77%). There is a seasonal trend for children and adolescents such that higher rates are associated with the school year, which is not present for adults. Conclusion Practitioners should be cognizant of the fact that suicidal ideation and suicide attempts for youth present differently than they do for the greater population and they should be vigilant in identifying risk factors, especially during seasons where risk of self-harm increases.
Association Between Symptom Burden and Physical Function in Older Patients with Cancer

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the independent association between symptom burden and physical function impairment in older adults with cancer. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Two university-based geriatric oncology clinics. PARTICIPANTS Patients with cancer aged 65 years or older who underwent evaluation with geriatric assessment (GA). MEASUREMENTS Symptom burden was measured as a summary score of severity ratings (range = 0-10) of 10 commonly reported symptoms using a Clinical Symptom Inventory (CSI). Functional impairment was defined as the presence of one or more impairments of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), any significant physical activity limitation on the Medical Outcomes Survey (MOS), one or more recent falls in the previous 6 months, or a Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score of 9 or less. Multivariate analysis evaluated the association between symptom burden and physical function impairment, adjusting for other clinical and sociodemographic variables. RESULTS From 2011 to 2015, 359 patients with cancer and a median age of 81 years (range = 65-95 y) consented. The mean CSI score was 23.2 ± 20.5 with an observed range of 0 to 90. Patients in the highest quartile of symptom burden (N = 91; CSI score 52 ± 13) had a higher prevalence of IADL impairment (91% vs 51%), physical activity limitation (93% vs 65%), falls (55% vs 21%), and SPPB score of 9 or less (92% vs 69%) (all P values <.01) when compared with those in the bottom quartile (N = 81; CSI score: 2 ± 2). With each unit increase in CSI score, the odds of having IADL impairment, physical activity limitations, falls, and SPPB scores of 9 or less increased by 4.8%, 4.4%, 2.9%, and 2.5%, respectively (P < .05 for all results). CONCLUSIONS In older patients with cancer, higher symptom burden is associated with functional impairment. Future studies are warranted to evaluate if improved symptom management can improve function in older cancer patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:998-1004, 2019.
“Go ask Alice, when she’s 10-feet tall”: Psychosocial correlates to lifetime LSD use among a national sample of US adults

IntroductionOnce thought a rarely used drug, LSD use is steadily increasing among US adults. A greater understanding of social factors and psychological determinants leading to lifetime LSD use can...
The Covert Advertising Recognition and Effects (CARE) model: Processes of persuasion in native advertising and other masked formats

Covert advertisements, or those that utilize the guise and delivery mechanisms of familiar non-advertising formats, differ from other more direct forms of advertising in several ways that are impor...
Effects of Thermal Process Parameters on Mechanical Interlayer Strength for Additively Manufactured Ultem 9085

Abstract The effects of the envelope temperature on the microstructure and mechanical strength of Ultem 9085 fused deposition modeling (FDM) components were studied. A customized build chamber was developed for a commercial 3D printer in order to control the envelope temperature during printing. Test specimens were printed in the vertical direction because their mechanical strength exhibited the greatest dependence on inter-layer adhesion and neck development. A delay was introduced between two layers in each specimen in order to create a weak region where the neck was not expected to fully develop. However, none of the specimens failed in this region. Mechanical testing revealed that neck growth was highly dependent on the envelope temperature, and the strength was shown to vary significantly ( > 20%) based on the envelope temperature. The variability of the mechanical strength also decreased as the envelope temperature increased. Thermal imaging revealed that the cooling rate of the specimens was consistent regardless of the envelope temperature. Fracture analysis confirmed that higher envelope temperatures improved the amount of neck growth and inter-layer adhesion in the specimens. This study showed that increasing the envelope temperature created parts with higher strengths and improved consistencies.
Distinct Polygenic Score Profiles in Schizophrenia Subgroups With Different Trajectories of Cognitive Development

Objective:Different cognitive development histories in schizophrenia may reflect variation across dimensions of genetic influence. The authors derived and characterized cognitive development trajec...
Battery Degradation Modeling and Optimal Usage in a Microgrid Using Markov Decision Process

With a focus of reducing emission due to power production from fossil fuels, emphasis on renewable energy based resources are gaining more importance in recent years. Photovoltaic power generation systems with battery backup has the need to use a battery backup as due to the intermittent nature of the solar energy. A framework based on Markov Decision Process (MDP) to schedule the battery has been presented in this work with the battery degradation modeled. The objective is to reduce the overall cost of the power production. The algorithm is also equipped with solar and load forecasting based on regression and time series model respectively. The battery degradation modeling is based on the battery chemistry for which an equivalent mathematical model is created and incorporated inside the MDP algorithm. The discussed control algorithm is tested on a system comprising of a grid, a photovoltaic generation, local loads and a battery energy storage system.
Confessions of an Unrepentant Translator: Alice-Catherine Carls Discusses the Practice of Literary Translation and the State of Polish Literature in America

Confessions of an Unrepentant Translator: Alice-Catherine Carls Discusses the Practice of Literary Translation and the State of Polish Literature in America
Comparison between the Real-Time PCR and Crystal Diagnostic Xpress Immunoassay Methods for Detecting Salmonella and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in the Air of Beef Slaughter Establishments.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) molecular method and the Crystal Diagnostic Xpress (CDx) immunoassay for detecting Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in air samples collected from abattoirs in Texas. The 70 air samples were collected from two small and two large meat processing plants in the spring and summer with a wetted wall cyclone air sampler. The samples were divided equally into two parts: one part was used for the qPCR assay, and the other part was enriched for 18 and 36 h and evaluated with the CDx immunoassay. All samples for which positive results were obtained were confirmed by plating and by biochemical and serological tests as recommended by AOAC International to verify results of rapid methods. With the qPCR and CDx assays and 36 h of enrichment, 37.5 and 57.1% of the samples, respectively, were positive for Salmonella (P 0.05). Air samples required longer enrichment for the CDx immunoassay than recommended by the manufacturer for food samples. Recovery of Salmonella and STEC increased 16 and 47%, respectively, when enrichment was extended from 18 to 36 h. The prevalence of Salmonella and STEC obtained with both methods was affected by the size of the processing plant and the processing stage. Detection rates for samples from larger plants were higher for both pathogens. Significantly higher prevalence was obtained for samples from the stunning and dehiding areas than for those from the fabrication rooms and chillers. Salmonella detection was higher with the CDx assay than with the qPCR assay, but no differences were found for the detection of STEC by the qPCR and CDx assays. These results highlight the importance of method adjustments when testing matrices other than foods. More research is needed to understand the dynamics of pathogen dispersal in aerosols and how this affects the effectiveness of current rapid detection methods. HIGHLIGHTS
Transcarotid Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

The number of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures have increased dramatically over the last decade; so too have the number of TAVR centers. While a percutaneous femoral artery approach is the access of choice, many patients have peripheral artery disease that prohibits access despite newer smaller diameter TAVR delivery systems. It is imperative for TAVR programs to have a preferred alternative access technique. The transcarotid approach is advantageous because the surgical skills and endovascular techniques required should be familiar to most surgeons, and when not, are, in our experience, readily obtainable. Here we provide a detailed description of the technical aspects of our approach to transcarotid TAVR.
Analysis of comparative performance of deep learning models for sentiment analysis

Abstract Sentiment analysis of text can be performed using machine learning and natural language processing methods. However, there is no single tool or method that is effective in all cases. The objective of this research project is to determine the effectiveness of neural network-based architecture to perform sentiment analysis of customer comments and reviews, such as the ones on Amazon site. A typical sentiment analysis process involves text preparation (of acquired content), sentiment detection, sentiment classification and analysis of results. In this research, the objective is to a) identify the best approach for text preparation in a given application (text filtering approach to remove errors in data), and, most importantly, b) what is the best machine learning (feed forward neural nets, convolutional neural nets, Long Short-Term Memory networks) approach that provides best classification accuracy. In this research, a set of three thousand two hundred reviews of food related products were used to train and experiment with a neural network-based sentiment analysis system. The neural network implementation of six different models provided close to one-hundred percent accuracy of test data, and a decent test accuracy in mid-80%. The results of the research would be useful to businesses in evaluating customer preferences for products or services.
Solid-state phase transitions of two quaternary metallic fuel alloys (U-2.5Mo-2.5Ti-5.0Zr and U-1.5Mo-1.5Ti-7.0Zr in wt. %)

Abstract This study focuses on the solid-state phase transitions of two quaternary fuel alloys for fast reactors: U-1.5Mo-1.5Ti-7.0Zr (U-MT7Z) and U-2.5Mo-2.5Ti-5.0Zr (U-MT5Z). The characterization techniques are differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). To identify the high temperature phases, the alloys were annealed at 873K, 948K, 1023K, and 1123K (all under 72 hours). Combining those characterizations, the phase transitions are determined. In U-MT7Z, there is one phase transition observed, and it is ascribed to α + U2Ti → γ transition. In U-MT5Z, two transitions are found. The first transition is α → γ, while the second is U2Ti → γ. The γ phase onset temperature of U-MT5Z is lower than that of U-MT7Z due to the higher Mo content.