cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mortality of necrotizing enterocolitis and isolated ileal perforation at a single institution over the past 40 years.

Purpose Controversy exists regarding differences in mortality between isolated ileal perforation (IIP) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). We sought to identify risk factors and determine mortality rates for these two entities. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on all patients with NEC or IIP undergoing surgical management at our institution from May 1971 to December 2011. Demographics, birth history, management strategies, and mortality were recorded. Chi-square and unpaired t-test were used where appropriate. Results During the study period, 236 patients underwent operative management with 17.8% of those being for IIP. Patients with IIP had a lower estimated gestational age (27.8 ± 3.0 vs. 29.5 ± 4.2 weeks, p = 0.014), were more likely to be of multiple gestation (33.3 vs. 16.5%, p = 0.022), and were younger at diagnosis (8.7 ± 8.1 vs. 14.3 ± 11.1 days, p = 0.003) compared with those undergoing operation for NEC. Mortality was threefold lower with IIP (9.5 vs. 36.1%, p Conclusions IIP carries a unique set of risk factors and has a significantly lower mortality rate when compared with NEC.
Shaping Spaces for Learners and Learning

(2002). Shaping Spaces for Learners and Learning. Journal of Museum Education: Vol. 27, Environments for Learning, pp. 8-13.
Immunologic aspects of osteosarcoma and their application to therapy. A preliminary report.

Data are presented that demonstrate the antigenicity of saline extracts of normal bone and osteosarcoma. The tumor specificity of certain antigen(s) in the tumor extract was shown utilizing absorption techniques and tumor-specific antisera. Attempts to alter the clinical course of a patient's disease with metastatic osteosarcoma by active or passive immunization were unsuccessful. A method for obtaining and transferring lymphocytes sensitized to an implanted allogenic human osteosarcoma has been described. The tumor implants were rejected without apparent harm to the recipients. Although the follow-up period is short and the number of patients is small, the initial impression that transfer of sensitized lymphocytes may favorably influence the course of the disease justifies further investigation.
DOA estimation exploiting a uniform linear array with multiple co-prime frequencies

The co-prime array, which utilizes a co-prime pair of uniform linear sub-arrays, provides a systematical means for sparse array construction. By choosing two co-prime integers M and N, O ( MN ) co-array elements can be formed from only O ( M + N ) physical sensors. As such, a higher number of degrees-of-freedom (DOFs) is achieved, enabling direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation of more targets than the number of physical sensors. In this paper, we propose an alternative structure to implement co-prime arrays. A single sparse uniform linear array is used to exploit two or more continuous-wave signals whose frequencies satisfy a co-prime relationship. This extends the co-prime array and filtering to a joint spatio-spectral domain, thereby achieving high flexibility in array structure design to meet system complexity constraints. The DOA estimation is obtained using group sparsity-based compressive sensing techniques. In particular, we use the recently developed complex multitask Bayesian compressive sensing for group sparse signal reconstruction. The achievable number of DOFs is derived for the two-frequency case, and an upper bound of the available DOFs is provided for multi-frequency scenarios. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique and verify the analysis results. HighlightsWe have proposed a novel co-prime array structure that exploits a single uniform linear array and a co-prime set of frequencies.We have derived the analytical expressions of the array aperture and the number of DOFs with respect to two and multiple co-prime frequencies.DOA estimation is formulated as a group sparse compressive sensing problem, and is effectively solved by the complex multi-task Bayesian compressive sensing technique.
Posterior hypothalamic influences on cardiovascular effects of aortic nerve stimulation

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of stimulation of the posterior hypothalamus on the baroreflex responses produced by stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve. Animals were i...
Effects of flow speed, flow pattern and air bubbles on pressure loss in slurry pipelines

Pressure loss is an important factor in the design of a pipeline transportation system. To investigate the effects of flow speed, flow pattern and air bubbles on pressure loss in pumping a slurry or grout, a pipeline transportation system was established, and experiments that focused on the effects of flow patterns were performed. Curves describing the relationship of pressure gradient to velocity have two distinct segments, indicating laminar flow and turbulent flow. No significant difference in pressure loss was observed between the different flow patterns, although the straight and tangential flows showed a slight improvement to the whole system, and better performance was observed over a short distance. In terms of energy usage, bubbles introduced into the slurry require extra energy. A larger-diameter pipe is more efficient in a pipeline system.
Lyα Clouds from Dwarf Outflows

We propose that cooling outflows from star-forming dwarf galaxies may account for the QSO Lyα forests, providing a explanation for both the heavy elements and large sizes recently observed for them. Supernovae shock the interstellar gas to high temperature, and the resulting gas outflows from the dwarfs owing to their shallow potential wells. The gas cools radiatively as the radiative cooling time shortens because of adiabatic expansion. Subsequent thermal instability results in condensation of clouds. The clouds inherit the kinetic energy of the flow and coast to large distances, providing regions of the absorbing gas with sizes of up to hundreds of kpc. We calculate the Lyα absorption line profiles and the neutral column distribution, and show that they are consistent with observations. We suggest that the Lyα forests are caused by the faint blue galaxies found in the deep extragalactic surveys.
SIM’s Directions: “Back to the Future”

This essay addresses directions for the Social Issues in Management (SIM) Division from the perspective of “Back to the Future.” The author was chair of the SIM Division in 1983 to 1984 and the 198...
Evolution of Mitochondrial Studies

The notion of the compartmentalization of cellular functions, often by means of different organelles, arose from the convergence of two independent lines of investigation, one concentrating on cytological observations of cell inclusions and the other on biochemical studies of various metabolic pathways. The convergence occurred during the period of 1940–1960 when many important technical advances were made in the fractionation and isolation of reasonably homogeneous subcellular components. This meant that it became possible in many instances to assign specific functions to particular organelles or compartments of the cell. Today, every student of biology is aware of the fact that the mitochondrion is a specialized organelle whose primary functions are the conservation of oxidatively derived energy and its utilization for ATP synthesis. Some of the earlier developments that led to this recognition and other more recent highlights of studies of mitochondrial structure and function will be traced briefly in this chapter.
The Socialist Origins of Artificial Carp Reproduction in Maoist China

The Maoist era has often been portrayed as a hindrance to China’s biotechnological development due to Lysenko doctrine and the communist government’s animosity to basic academic research. Yet some ...
A tablet-based intervention to manipulate social cognitive bias in schizophrenia

ABSTRACTInterventions to decrease cognitive bias in schizophrenia have yielded limited benefit. One reason may be that people receive insufficient rehearsal applying debiasing skills while biases are actively affecting their thinking. The authors designed Mary/Eddie/Bill-internet (MEBi) to (1) teach debiasing skills to people with schizophrenia, (2) activate biases during training sessions, and (3) provide daily in-home rehearsal of debiasing skills using tablet computer interface. In this proof-of-concept trial, 28 adults with schizophrenia used the MEBi tablet “app” for one month. Fourteen completed a version of MEBi including only the debiasing skills, and 10 completed a version including a bias activation component. Participants completed pretest and posttest measures of social cognition and social functioning. Results showed that participants in both groups adhered to the intervention and learned the debiasing skills. Participants who were only taught the debiasing skills showed significant improveme...
Smooth shunt control of a fuzzy based distributed power flow controller to improve power quality

Presently, the quality of power supplied is essential to many customers. Power quality (PQ) is a valued utility service where many customers are prepared to pay and get it. In the future, distribution system operators ought to decide, to provide their customers with distinct PQ ranges at different prices. Here, in this paper, a new control action to improve and maintain and enhance the power quality of an electrical power system is proposed in this paper. Fuzzy based distributed power flow controller (DPFC) is designed and put into action to compensate the voltage imbalances arising in a power system. This customized DPFC is an advanced FACTS device, which has its structure analogous to unified power flow controller (UPFC). DPFC comprises of both series and shunt converters, in which its three phase series converter is distributed over the transmission line as several single phase static converters ensuring high controllability and reliability at a low cost compared to an UPFC. A central controlling circuit is designed to supply reference signals to each of the individual controlling circuits of both series and shunt converters. This customized device is applied to a single machine infinite bus power system having nonlinear loads connected to it and is simulated in MATLAB/Simulink environment by using OPAL-RT 5600 Real-time digital Simulator. The results demonstrate the validation of proposed technique to enhance the power quality.
Technology and Inequality Case Study: The Sharing Economy

Using the four-part framework of mediation, model, mobilization , and wealth effects, we analyze the case of the sharing economy. The digital technology used to mediate the sharing economy platforms has evolved to attract and maintain the trust of a diversity of buyers and sellers, while meeting the expectations of multi-billion dollar investors. The sharing economy model was often in conflict with local regulations when it began, so developing a capacity for regulatory change has been a key mobilization challenge. In contrast to its communitarian roots, the business model of the sharing economy has raised massive amounts of capital from wealthy investors, but has yet to create substantial operating profits. The ultimate effects on wealth inequality remain to be seen, but evidence of significant wealth decentralization is difficult to find.
The Burden and Visit Prevalence of Pediatric Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objectives Pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis has a substantial impact, but its epidemiology has yet to be elucidated. Our objectives were (1) to determine the associated national visit burden and (2) to assess its frequency relative to other frequent childhood otolaryngological illnesses. Study Design Analysis of national survey databases. Setting Ambulatory care settings in the United States, 2005 to 2012. Subjects and Methods Cases with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis were assessed in total and as a proportion of all visits reported in National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. To place these data into context, results for acute rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and otitis media were also extracted and compared. Data specific to individual age group and calendar year were assessed. Results Chronic rhinosinusitis accounted for 5.6 million visits per annum (range, 3.7-7.5 million) among patients 0 to 20 years of age. Children in the >5- to 10-year-old and >10- to 15-year-old age groups were more likely to be affected ( P 15 to 20 years of age, chronic rhinosinusitis was 2.18-fold (95% CI, 1.65-2.70) more frequently diagnosed than otitis media. Conclusions The visit burden from pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis exceeds that of acute rhinosinusitis and equals the burden from allergic rhinitis.
AN EVALUATION OF A PORTABLE GEIGER COUNTER TO TRACE RADIOLABELED HELIOTHIS ZEA (BODDIE) (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE) LARVAE IN CORN AND COTTON

A portable Geiger counter was evaluated for tracing the movements of radiolabeled Heliothis zea (Boddie) larvae in cotton and corn. In cotton, larvae used were labeled by injection of the parent females and phosphorus-32. These could easily be located using the Geiger counter. In corn, larvae were labeled topically so that pupation sites in the soil could be labeled. The percentage of these that could be located proved variable.
Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer Between Archaea and Bacteria

Archaea and bacteria living in syntrophic consortia take advantage of the metabolic abilities of their syntrophic partners to overcome energetic barriers and break down compounds that they cannot digest by themselves. Methanogenesis and anaerobic oxidization of methane (AOM) are main processes involved in syntrophic consortia. Interspecies electron transfer, which is a major type of microbial communication in syntrophic processes, has a significant impact on the global carbon cycle. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is achieved by electrical contacts between the electron donor and acceptor cells. In this chapter, we highlight recent advances of DIET in methanogenesis and AOM processes.
Current strategies of spinal cord protection during thoracoabdominal aortic surgery

Despite improved survival rates after thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs, paraplegia remains a devastating complication with high incidence, ranging from 3 to 10%. Ischemic insults to the spinal cord are unavoidable during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs. There is no single measure that can prevent paraplegia alone. A multimodality approach is required to minimize the ischemic insults during thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs and postoperative second hit to the spinal cord. Distal aortic perfusion is important to maintain the collateral network perfusion pressure, while cerebrospinal drainage allows to directly maintain the spinal cord perfusion. Reattachment of segmental arteries T8–T12 is encouraged to lower the incidence of both immediate and delayed paraplegia. Systemic arterial pressure should be maintained above 130 mmHg and cerebrospinal drainage should be continued until the second postoperative day, despite intact neurological status. In this article, we describe our current operative techniques and perioperative management in patients undergoing repairs of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. A review of recent updates on spinal protection strategies is also reported.
African Women in the Academy and Beyond: Review Essay

Publishing stands at the tail end of one academic process and at the start of another. One the one hand, it represents a culmination of a research process, a process that begins with conceptualizing a topic, setting research instruments, collecting data, analyzing it and writing up the findings into a coherent text. This is a process whose very nature is woven with the trails and travails of the academy and academic work. These involve, among other things, power and power relations within and beyond the academy. The academy reflects the culture, values and power situation of the wider society. It, in turn, reproduces these relations in its administrative and management cadres, in its curriculum and knowledge producing and imparting organs and processes. The nature of power in the wider society is also mirrored in the student admission processes, the faculty recruitment procedures, and in the academy’s overall goals and the way these goals are identified, structured, processed and articulated. Power relations in the wider society, as in the academy, are structured along class, gender, religious, ideological and racial lines. These also have a bearing on the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion, mechanisms that determine who belongs and who does not. These lines demarcate member as opposed to non-members, insiders as opposed to outsiders, and therefore have a direct bearing on access to the academy and its resources, on equity in administrative and managerial representation.
Nicotinic Binding Sites in the Brain: Properties, Regulation, and Putative Endogenous Ligands

This session has dealt with current attempts to characterize the putative receptor sites of action of nicotine in brain. Several radiolabeled ligands with cholinergic function have been used to label sites in brain; apparent similarities and differences have been observed between labeled nicotine and other labeled nicotinic agonists and antagonists. It appears that nicotine affects a number of processes and has multiple and complex effects. It is also likely, however, that nicotine has specific effects in some brain regions.
Complete Genome Sequences of Six BI Cluster Streptomyces Bacteriophages, HotFries, Moozy, Rainydai, RavenPuff, Scap1, and SenditCS.

ABSTRACT Six double-stranded DNA Streptomyces bacteriophages, HotFries, Moozy, RavenPuff, Scap1, Rainydai, and SenditCS, were isolated using the phytopathogen Streptomyces scabiei as a host. These phages have been identified as Siphoviridae and members of cluster BI by genomic analysis.
Abstract 161: Temporal Trends in the Use of Acute Recanalization Therapies for Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Systemic Cancer

Background: Whether cancer patients receive acute recanalization therapies as often as non-cancer patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is uncertain. Additionally, while use of recanalization t...
Entropic c–functions in TT‾,JT‾,TJ‾ deformations

Abstract We study the holographic entanglement entropy of an interval in a quantum field theory obtained by deforming a holographic two–dimensional conformal field theory via a general linear combination of irrelevant operators that are closely related to, but nonetheless distinct from, T T ‾ , J T ‾ and T J ‾ , and compute the Casin–Huerta entropic c–function. In the ultraviolet, for a particular combination of the deformation parameters, we find that the leading order dependence of the entanglement entropy on the length of the interval is given by a square root but not logarithmic term. Such power law dependence of the entanglement entropy on the interval length is quite peculiar and interesting. We also find that the entropic c–function is ultraviolet regulator independent, and along the renormalization group upflow towards the ultraviolet, it is non–decreasing. We show that in the ultraviolet the entropic c–function exhibits a power law divergence as the interval length approaches a minimum finite value determined in terms of the deformation parameters. This value sets the non–locality scale of the theory.
Octadecyltrichlorosilane Incorporated Alginate Micro-granules as Sustained-Release Carriers for Small Hydrophilic Molecules.

Background Hydrogels are excellent drug carriers, but their inability to retain hydrophilic drugs for a prolonged period of time has greatly limited their usage. Research has mostly focused on intricate designs and manipulations of hydrogels to expand their applications in drug delivery. Objective In this study, a simple approach by incorporating a hydrophobic agent, octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS), to alginate hydrogel micro-granules (Alg-Ms), was investigated as an effective technique to prolong the release of small hydrophilic drugs. Methods Sodium Benzoate (SB), a highly water-soluble antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compound, was used as a model drug. The presence of hydrophobic OTS impeded swelling of these OTS incorporated Alg-Ms (OTS-Alg-Ms), hence sustaining the release of SB. Result The release data was fitted with Ritger-Peppas and Peppas-Sahlin models and the results showed that SB released from OTS-Alg-Ms with higher OTS content was mainly controlled by Fickian diffusion; with a lower OTS content, OTS-Alg-Ms swelled more easily, the combined diffusion and swelling led to a faster SB release. Conclusion Thus, by simply tuning the OTS concentration in the solution where Alg-Ms were briefly submerged in a predefined release period, from hours to a few days, small hydrophilic drugs from these OTS-Alg-Ms could be successfully achieved.
Diagnostic Challenge in a Symptomatic Patient of Arteria Lusoria with Retro-esophageal Right Subclavian Artery and Absent Brachiocephalic Trunk.

A combination of absent brachiocepahlic trunk and anomalous left circumflex artery with a retro-esophageal right subclavian artery is an extremely rare finding. This can clinically manifest as episodic dysphagia and chest pain. Routine coronary angiography via femoral access could be misleading and right radial access in such cases can be particularly challenging and has never been reported in literature before. We present a case of a 42-year-old female with symptoms of chest, back, and left neck pain. She also complained of occasional dysphagia, dizziness, and palpitations. Physical examination revealed a regular heart rhythm with no vascular bruits. An electrocardiogram (EKG) only showed normal sinus rhythm and incomplete right bundle branch block. Noninvasive testing included an echocardiogram and previously done exercise stress test, and myocardial perfusion scans were noted to be normal. A diagnostic cardiac catheterization via right radial approach was performed to delineate her coronary anatomy and rule out ischemic etiology. This led to diagnosis of anomalous coronary anatomy (retro-esophageal right subclavian artery arising from descending aorta in association with an anomalous right circumflex artery with absent innominate artery) through a technically difficult and risky procedure. Significant vessel tortuosity and abnormal catheter angulations were encountered and were overcome by using specific catheters. Meticulous use of 6 French MP, WR, JL, and JR4 catheters along with an exchange length wire was required to negotiate the anatomical variations and complete the coronary angiogram via right radial artery. From a procedural stand-point, coronary angiography via right radial access in presence of such rare anatomical variations can be particularly challenging. Routine femoral catheterization may fail to depict this important anatomical variation. Coronary angiogram via right radial access in the presence of a combination of anatomical variations of great vessels and anomalous coronary arteries is particularly challenging from a procedural stand point due to vessel tortuosity and shape of catheters. Choice of anatomically appropriate diagnostic catheters and specific maneuvers are imperative in these coronary angiographic procedures.
Sex Difference in the Range of Pelvic Tilt in Sitting and Standing Among Korean Young Adults

Background: The range of pelvic tilt is one of modifiable risk factors in preventing the lower back pain. Objects: The purpose of this study were to compare the range of pelvic tilt motion by testing position and sex. Methods: One hundred five young adults (61 females and 44 males) agreed to participate in measuring the anterior and posterior pelvic tilt with the PALM (Palpation Meter) in sitting and standing. The range of pelvic tilt motion was defined as the difference between the pelvic anterior and posterior tilt angles. Results: In general, the anterior pelvic tilt was greater (p < 0.01) in standing than in sitting and the posterior pelvic tilt was lesser (p < 0.01) in sitting than in standing. The anterior pelvic tilt in sitting and standing was greater (p < 0.01) in the females than in the males. However, the effect of sex on the posterior pelvic tilt was only significant in sitting (p < 0.01), but not in standing (p = 0.78). The range of pelvic tilt was greater (p = 0.03) in sitting but not significantly (p = 0.07) affected by the sex. Conclusion: The pelvic tilt motion in these young adults showed large variability and further studies are needed to understand better its relationship to the prevalence of the lower back disorders. Conclusion: The pelvic tilt motion in these young adults showed large variability and further studies are needed to understand better its relationship to the prevalence of the lower back disorders.
Hemodynamic comparison of intravenous push diltiazem versus metoprolol for atrial fibrillation rate control

Abstract Objective Intravenous push (IVP) diltiazem and metoprolol are commonly used for management of atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate (RVR) in the emergency department (ED). This study's objective was to determine if there was a significant difference in blood pressure reduction between agents. Methods This was a single-center, retrospective study of adult patients initially treated with IVP diltiazem or metoprolol in the ED from 2008 to 2018. Primary endpoint was mean reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP) from baseline to nadir during the study period. Study period was defined as time from first dose of IVP intervention to 30 min after last dose of IVP intervention or first dose of maintenance therapy, whichever came first. Results A total of 63 diltiazem patients and 45 metoprolol patients met eligibility criteria. Baseline characteristics were similar except for initial ventricular rate (VR) and home beta-blocker use. Median dose of initial intervention was 10 [10−20] mg and 5 [5–5] mg for diltiazem and metoprolol respectively. Mean SBP reduction was 18 ± 22 mmHg for diltiazem compared to 14 ± 15 mmHg for metoprolol (p = .33). Clinically relevant hypotension was similar between groups 14% vs. 16% (p = .86). Rate control was achieved in 35 (56%) of the diltiazem group and 16 (36%) of the metoprolol group (p = .04). Conclusion IVP diltiazem and metoprolol caused similar SBP reduction and hypotension when used for initial management of AF with RVR in the ED. However, rate control was achieved more often with diltiazem.
Aluminium-lithium alloys

A review is presented on the development of aluminium-lithium alloys spanning several decades including both ingot metallurgy and rapid solidification. Initial interest in aluminium-lithium alloys derived from the benefits associated with lithium, both in the presence of solid solution and as the coherent Al3Li phase which result in a density reduction of about 3% for each weight per cent addition of lithium and an increase in Young's modulus of about 6%. In principle weight savings in aircraft structural parts could reach 15%. The less than optimum deformation and fracture behaviour of aluminium-lithium alloys has been attributed in part to the strain localization that results from the planar slip of shearable Al3Li precipitates. The physical metallurgy of aluminium-lithium alloys is reviewed together with various approaches that investigators have carried out, to various degrees of success, to improve the deformation behaviour inherent to these alloys. Many of the problems associated with ingot processed Al-Li alloys were alleviated to a certain extent by rapid solidification-powder metallurgy (RS-PM) processes. Although considerable progress was indeed achieved by RS-PM processing technology, the RS-PM approach introduced another problem, namely that of oxide contamination. Recently it has been demonstrated that “spray atomization and collection” processes, properly managed, are able to produce rapidly solidified, wrought, fully dense alloys which overcome the faults of RS-PM alloys. The developments of such processes are also reviewed.
Smart manufacturing: Machine learning-based economic MPC and preventive maintenance

Abstract This chapter focuses on the development of an economic model predictive control scheme that incorporates an ensemble of recurrent neural networks (RNN) for prediction and addresses economic optimality and closed-loop stability of nonlinear systems under preventive actuator maintenance. Specifically, an ensemble of RNN models is developed using data from extensive open-loop simulations to capture process nonlinear dynamics in an operating region. Based on the ensemble of RNN models, an economic model predictive control scheme is proposed to integrate scheduled preventive control actuator maintenance, process economics, and process control into a unified methodology.
76. Effect of Early Administration of Systemic Corticosteroids on Outcomes in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

Background: Systemic corticosteroids (steroids) have been empirically used in acute respiratory distress syndrome, an entity also present in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) Early steroids administration could accelerate resolution of symptoms and reduce intensive care unit (ICU) stay in these patients, but practice varies widely as evidence is scant Methods: We reviewed the records of 498 adults admitted to Stony Brook University Hospital, NY, from 3/1 to 4/15, 2020 with COVID-19 requiring high-flow O2 (non-rebreather mask, Venturi mask with FiO2 >50%, or high-flow nasal cannula) We excluded those (N=29) who received mechanical ventilation (MV) or died within 24h of admission We followed patients until death or discharge We compared outcomes between patients who received early steroids (i e prior to MV) and those who did not We used adjusted Cox models to evaluate the composite of death or need for MV We also evaluated healthcare resources utilization Results: Of 469 patients, 175 (37 3%) received steroids while on high flow O2 Table 1 summarizes the baseline characteristics Patients who received steroids were more likely to have asthma, had slightly longer duration of symptoms, lower O2 saturation, higher NT-proBNP and lower IL-6 levels at baseline In total, 228 patients (48 6%) reached the composite endpoint (123 died and 105 received MV) By 7 days, 32 5% of patients who received steroids died or were intubated vs 44 8% of those who did not (log-rank P=0 008), Figure 1 In models adjusted for race, age, sex, comorbidities, baseline O2 saturation and procalcitonin, steroids reduced risk for death or MV by 44% (hazard ratio [HR] 0 56;95%CI 0 42-0 76;P< 0 001) The effect was time-dependent with initial HR 0 34 (95%CI 0 21-0 56;P< 0 001) and daily attenuation by 10 2% (95%CI 1 7%-19 4%;P=0 017) Mortality at 7 and 14 days did not differ between groups (8 1% vs 8 3% and 19 1% vs 21 0%, respectively, log-rank P=0 75) Among discharged patients, length of hospital stay was longer, but ICU stay was shorter with steroids, Table 2 Conclusion: Early administration of steroids reduced primarily the need for MV in our high-risk COVID-19 patients, with shorter ICU utilization, at the expense of longer hospital stay Further studies are needed to optimize the use of steroids in these patients (Table Presented)
The Nondamped Nature of 12 Low-Redshift Damped Lyα Candidate Systems

Hubble Space Telescope (HST) UV spectroscopy of 12 candidate low-redshift damped Lyα (DLA) systems in 11 quasi-stellar objects (z = 0.103 in Q0054+144, z = 0.969 and z = 0.987 in Q0302-223, z = 0.478 in Q0454-220, z = 1.476 in Q1047+550, z = 1.070 in Q1206+459, z = 1.228 in Q1247+267, z = 0.399 in Q1318+290B, z = 0.519 in Q1329+412, z = 0.276 in Q1451-375, z = 0.204 in Q2112+059, z = 0.263 in Q2251+113) are presented; the observations demonstrate that they are not DLAs with N ≥ 2 × 1020 atoms cm-2. In all cases except two, the systems either do not exist or are well below the DLA threshold column density; the exceptions are a z = 0.474 system in Q0454-220 that has N = 3 × 1019 atoms cm-2 and a z = 1.223 system in Q1247+267 that has N = 8 × 1019 atoms cm-2. Thus, observations of these objects in the Chandra, Gemini, and HST archives are not suitable for doing follow-up work on low-redshift DLAs. Furthermore, these results indicate that the low-redshift DLA statistics derived from International Ultraviolet Explorer spectra and presented by Lanzetta, Wolfe, & Turnshek and Wolfe et al. in 1995 are invalid.
We Want You Back: Uncovering the Influences on In-Person Instructional Operations in Fall 2020

Institutional responses to COVID-19 are a topic of much concern. Emergent research has suggested that politics and polarization was more strongly linked, than was COVID-19, to institutions engaging in-person instruction for Fall 2020. This study used Structural Equation Modeling to test this trend. Based upon political polarization and dependency, we used data from the College Crisis Initiative (C2i), to test how state and county sociopolitical features, state and county COVID-19 rates, and state revenue losses influenced in-person instruction by September 9th, 2020. The accepted overall model, developed using the full sample, suggested that County Sociopolitical Features (r=.13) were the stronger influence on the decision, followed by Pandemic Severity (r=-.10) and State Sociopolitical Features (r=.09). In recognizing that institutional subsectors may be uniquely sensitive to these factors we tested our models using the following subgroups: 4-year public, 4-year private, and 2-year public institutions. State Sociopolitical Features (r=.17) were the only significant influence on 4-year public institutions. Whereas 4-year private and 2-year public institution decisions were influenced by both State- and County-Sociopolitical Features – these features were respectively 2x and 3x stronger than were state features. Finally, Pandemic Severity (r=-.09) only influenced 4-year private institutional decisions to engage in-person instruction but to a weaker degree than both levels of sociopolitical features. Overall, models suggest that COVID-19 was not a consistently strong factor for institutions when deciding in-person instruction and that sociopolitical features were more influential, including for 4-year private institutions – which illustrates a propensity towards remaining in favor with sociopolitical “in-groups.”
Anticipating the monsoon: The necessity and impossibility of the seasonal weather forecast for South Asia, 1886-1953

This article examines the most controversial of the activities of the India Meteorological Department (IMD): long-term seasonal forecasting for the South Asian subcontinent. Under the pressure of recurrent famines, in 1886 the imperial IMD commenced annual issue of monsoon predictions several months in advance, focused on one variable: rainfall. This state service was new to global late nineteenth-century meteorology, attempted first and most rigorously in India. Successive IMD leaders adapted the forecast in light of scientific and infrastructural developments, continuously revising the underlying methods of its production. All methods failed to achieve accurate prevision. Nevertheless, the imperatives of economic administration, empire and public demand compelled IMD scientists to continue annual publication of this unreliable product. This article contends that the seasonal forecast is best understood as an enduring ritual of good governance in a monsoonal environment. Through analysis of newspaper controversies, it suggests that although the seasonal forecast was the most compelling justification for the IMD's imperial and global importance, its limitations undercut popular trust in modern meteorology. Finally, this case illustrates the centrality of 'tropical meteorology' to the historical development of modern atmospheric science.
Enhanced Surgical Recovery and Cancer

Cancer is emerging globally and remains the second common cause of mortality. It is estimated that up to 50% of inpatient admissions worldwide are for a diagnosis of cancer. With increasing cancer prevalence over time, it is expected that patients requiring surgical intervention under anesthesia shall also increase. Despite significant immunological advances in cancer care, surgery will continue to be a mainstay strategy for reducing tumor burden, particularly for solid tumors. Frequently, chemo-radiation therapies are administered before the surgical resection as neoadjuvant therapy or after the surgical resection as adjuvant therapies to provide optimal surgical resection and increase overall cancer-free survival. The routine presurgical evaluation and optimization remain an important parameter for better patient care. These relate to evaluating and optimizing the anatomic, physiological paraneoplastic, and treatment-related effects of cancer on different organ function. Anesthesia providers should therefore be cognizant of immediate, and long-term systemic effects of cancer therapies (organ toxicities), and the effects of chemo-radiation on nutrition, fatigue, anemia, and physical deconditioning all of which could influence the recovery profile after major surgery.
Is there Evidence for the Suggestion that Fatigue Accumulates Following Resistance Exercise

It has been suggested that improper post-exercise recovery or improper sequence of training may result in an 'accumulation' of fatigue. Despite this suggestion, there is a lack of clarity regarding which physiological mechanisms may be proposed to contribute to fatigue accumulation. The present paper explores the time course of the changes in various fatigue-related measures in order to understand how they may accumulate or lessen over time following an exercise bout or in the context of an exercise program. Regarding peripheral fatigue, the depletion of energy substrates and accumulation of metabolic byproducts has been demonstrated to occur following an acute bout of resistance training; however, peripheral accumulation and depletion appear unlikely candidates to accumulate over time. A number of mechanisms may contribute to the development of central fatigue, postulating the need for prolonged periods of recovery; however, a time course is difficult to determine and is dependent on which measurement is examined. In addition, it has not been demonstrated that central fatigue measures accumulate over time. A potential candidate that may be interpreted as accumulated fatigue is muscle damage, which shares similar characteristics (i.e., prolonged strength loss). Due to the delayed appearance of muscle damage, it may be interpreted as accumulated fatigue. Overall, evidence for the presence of fatigue accumulation with resistance training is equivocal, making it difficult to draw the conclusion that fatigue accumulates. Considerable work remains as to whether fatigue can accumulate over time. Future studies are warranted to elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the concept of fatigue accumulation.
The Limbal Niche and Regenerative Strategies

The protective function and transparency provided by the corneal epithelium are dependent on and maintained by the regenerative capacity of limbal epithelial stem cells (LESCs). These LESCs are supported by the limbal niche, a specialized microenvironment consisting of cellular and non-cellular components. Disruption of the limbal niche, primarily from injuries or inflammatory processes, can negatively impact the regenerative ability of LESCs. Limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) directly hampers the regenerative ability of the corneal epithelium and allows the conjunctival epithelium to invade the cornea, which results in severe visual impairment. Treatment involves restoring the LESC population and functionality; however, few clinically practiced therapies currently exist. This review outlines the current understanding of the limbal niche, its pathology and the emerging approaches targeted at restoring the limbal niche. Most emerging approaches are in developmental phases but show promise for treating LSCD and accelerating corneal regeneration. Specifically, we examine cell-based therapies, bio-active extracellular matrices and soluble factor therapies in considerable depth.
Large-Scale Paraphrasing for Natural Language Understanding

We examine the application of data-driven paraphrasing to natural language understanding. We leverage bilingual parallel corpora to extract a large collection of syntactic paraphrase pairs, and introduce an adaptation scheme that allows us to tackle a variety of text transformation tasks via paraphrasing. We evaluate our system on the sentence compression task. Further, we use distributional similarity measures based on context vectors derived from large monolingual corpora to annotate our paraphrases with an orthogonal source of information. This yields significant improvements in our compression system’s output quality, achieving state-of-the-art performance. Finally, we propose a refinement of our paraphrases by classifying them into natural logic entailment relations. By extending the synchronous parsing paradigm towards these entailment relations, we will enable our system to perform recognition of textual entailment.
Human brain fibroblast growth factor. Isolation and partial chemical characterization.

Abstract Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) has been purified to homogeneity from human brain by a procedure involving salt precipitation, cation-exchange chromatography, Heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC. Isolation was monitored by radioimmunoassay and/or by testing column fractions for their capacity to stimulate the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The amino-terminal sequence of human brain FGF was, determined as Pro-Ala-Leu-Pro-Glu-Asp-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Ala-PhePro-. This sequence is identical to that of the amino-terminal region of bovine FGF. Additional evidence, including amino acid composition, Chromatographie retention behavior, and immunoreactivity suggest that the human and bovine mitogens are very similarin structure.
A impertinência da pertinência: reflexões em torno do pensamento sobre o Brasil nos Estados Unidos

Quando se deixa o Brasil por uma experiencia academica no exterior, ele pode tornar-se um significante estranho, um espaco que o sujeito deve representar e que, no entanto, ele nao pode mais reconhecer completamente. O que e o Brasil num ambiente academico como o norte-americano, em que o pais e visto como caudatario de uma tradicao "latino-americana" que grande parte dos brasileiros mal reconhece como sua? Sera a America Latina uma construcao simbolica coerente e estavel somente da perspectiva da comunidade academica anglofona? O que significa perguntar-se sobre a literatura brasileira fora do Brasil? Estas e outras questoes serao tratadas aqui, para ao fim perguntar se a pertinencia nao e o mais impertinente entre os nossos mais acalentados sentimentos.
Blood–Brain Barrier

The blood–brain barrier consists of endothelial cells lining brain capillaries. It serves to restrict and control the movement of substances between the general circulation and brain extracellular fluid. It participates in regulating the volume and composition of fluid surrounding the brain through specific transport processes, and thus contributes to homoeostasis of the central nervous system. Some of these processes may be regulated hormonally, or modulated by adjacent cells including astrocytes. The barrier function of the blood–brain barrier is due to: (1) tight junctions that restrict movement of substances between the endothelial cells, (2) specific transport proteins that determine which substances can cross the barrier transcellularly and (3) enzymes that may degrade or alter substances prior to passage. Systemically administered drugs intended to treat neurological disorders must be designed to bypass the restrictive elements of the blood–brain barrier. Pathological conditions associated with the central nervous system may alter blood–brain barrier function. Key Concepts: The blood–brain barrier regulates brain extracellular fluid. Brain capillaries form a tight barrier except in specialised areas. Tight junctions restrict paracellular movement of substances across the blood–brain barrier. Astrocytes contribute to differentiation of the blood–brain barrier. Transport across the blood–brain barrier may be passive or active. Enzymes contribute a metabolic barrier to the blood–brain barrier. A strategy must be developed to deliver drugs to the brain. Altered blood–brain barrier function in disease. Structural and functional properties of the blood–brain barrier. Keywords: brain extracellular fluid; cerebral capillary endothelial cells; tight junctions; multidrug resistance proteins
Revising Manners: Giovanni Della Casa’s 'Galateo' and Antoine de Courtin’s 'Nouveau traité de la civilité'

This article undertakes a cross-cultural comparison of Giovanni Della Casa's Galateo Ovvero Trattato de’ Costumi e Modi che si debbono tenere o schifare nella comune conversatione (1558) and its seventeenth-century French heir, Antoine de Courtin’s Nouveau traite de la civilite qui se pratiquent en France parmi les honnetes gens (1671) in light of the Renaissance concept of imitation. Courtin’s text functions in some ways as a “translation” of Della Casa’s Galateo but it is less a faithful reproduction than an adaptation with distinct differences in approach and authorial perspective. A close reading of each text reveals how Galateo both invites and resists imitation by Courtin and how the courtesy book form shapes this imitation.
Development and validation of IMAQ: Integrative Medicine Attitude Questionnaire

Complementary/alternative medicine and integrative medicine (CAM/IM) are increasingly used in the U.S. We set out to develop and validate a brief questionnaire measuring health care provider and medical student attitudes regarding these approaches to healthcare. IMAQ is a 29-item, 7-point Likert scale rated instrument, developed from focus groups consisting of faculty, fellows, visiting residents, and medical students at a university based integrative medicine program. Respondents included 111 (of 574 contacted) internal medicine physicians on an academic medical center CME list and 85 healthcare providers (mostly physicians) attending an American Holistic Medical Association Annual Conference (296 attending). Cohorts were selected for expected differences in attitudes toward CAM/IM. Factor analysis demonstrated that a 2 factor solution best explained the variance in responses (38%). Factor 1 ("openness to new ideas and paradigms") explained 26% of variance with loadings ranging from 0.79 to 0.3, with factor 2 ("value of both introspection and relationship to patient") contributing an additional 12% of the explained variance with loadings ranging from 0.69 to 0.42. Both factors demonstrated adequate reliability. Factor 1 had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91, while factor 2 was 0.72. As expected, AHMA conference attendees scored higher (F = 120.00, p 0.05). Analysis of the IMAQ provided evidence of its reliability and validity in measuring attitudes toward CAM/IM, specifically openness to new ideas and paradigms, and the value of relationship to self and patient. Initial findings support use of the IMAQ in measuring attitudes of students and practitioners towards CAM/IM interventions as a first step in understanding willingness to use these approaches to healing. It is our desire that this preliminary instrument will continue to be refined as the field of CAM/IM matures.
Charitable giving and government policy : an economic analysis

Giving and Government: An Introduction Charitable Contributions of Money Government Grants and Charitable Giving Giving, Imperfect Information and Government Policies An Economic Analysis of Volunteering Contributions of Money: Empirical Evidence Volunteering: Empirical Evidence Giving and Government: Time Series Analysis Charitable Giving: The 1980's and Beyond Bibliography Index